UPDATE: Police cite B18 million Phuket pool-villa payment in Panadda charity probe

Police investigators say about B527 million, or 65%, of the B815 million donated to the Ongkorn Thamdee Foundation was allegedly used for personal benefit, including payments linked to a Phuket pool-villa project, in an investigation that led to the arrest of its founder, actress Panadda “Boom” Wongphudee.

The Bangkok Post reported on 7 November 2026 that the figures were announced by Pol Maj Gen Thatphum Jaruprat, commander of the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD), as Panadda and her husband, Atip “Got” Anantawan, made their first court appearance.

ECD officers arrested Panadda at her Bangkok home in the Navamin area on 6 November 2026, under a warrant issued by the Criminal Court the previous day. Atip was also named in a warrant and arrested. Panadda faces allegations of jointly defrauding the public, conspiring to launder money and committing offences under the Computer Crime Act. The allegations remain under investigation.

According to the Bangkok Post, investigators said three donation accounts received more than 3.2 million transactions from more than one million donor accounts since 2015, amounting to about B815 million. They said about B527 million, or 65%, was allegedly used for personal benefit across 12 categories.

The report said the categories included B18 million paid to contractors building a pool villa in Phuket and B36 million transferred to foundation committee members. Other items cited by investigators included B4.6 million transferred to Panadda’s father, B24 million invested in mutual funds, B10 million spent on life insurance and B19 million used for credit-card payments. Withdrawals from mutual funds were reportedly used to buy B2.7 million worth of jewellery and luxury handbags, while some funds paid housing and common-area maintenance expenses.

The reports give different figures and descriptions for the Phuket construction payments. Nation Thailand previously reported that more than B45 million had been transferred to a contractor building pool villas in Phuket, while the Bangkok Post, citing police investigators, reported B18 million paid to contractors building a pool villa. Neither report explains whether the larger figure covered a broader transfer category or a different accounting scope, so the figures should not be combined.

Panadda said the foundation’s construction project at Khlong 8 in Pathum Thani had a budget of about B50 million and was intended to support its charitable operations. She said transactions involving her husband required further examination. Allegations of onward transfers from the Phuket contractor to Atip also emerged, although their details and purposes remained under examination. The Bangkok Post separately reported that investigators identified B99 million transferred to Atip, but did not state whether that figure included any Phuket-related payments.

Questions about two donation accounts arose between 28 and 30 October, after Panadda announced on 27 October that she wanted to end her marriage to Atip amid disputes involving land, property and money held in a safe. The foundation’s legal team said an account opened in Panadda’s name remained in use alongside an account registered to the foundation, with the board’s endorsement.

In their account of the money trail, investigators described three accounts used over time for donations. They said Panadda began soliciting donations through a personal account in November 2015 and established a Facebook page for the charity in 2017 while continuing to use the original account. After the foundation was registered in Bang Khen district of Bangkok in March 2022, an account in its registered name was opened in July, and both accounts continued to receive donations. In 2025, as plans emerged to relocate the foundation to Pathum Thani, a third personal supplementary account was opened to collect donations for construction of a new foundation. Investigators said Panadda retained authority over payment authorisations for all three accounts.

The Ongkorn Thamdee Foundation said on 29 October that Panadda would temporarily step down as chair, with its vice-chair serving in an acting capacity. It also suspended donations through all channels while its finances and the people involved were checked.

Police reportedly examined about 15–17 bank accounts connected to Panadda, Atip and the foundation between 2 and 4 November, as well as asset records dating back to 2015. The Anti-Money Laundering Office was reported to be examining more than 1.8 million transactions, and some assets were temporarily frozen. The more-than-3.2-million figure refers to all transactions received by the three donation accounts since 2015; the reports do not state whether the 1.8-million figure covered a narrower review or a different stage of the investigation.

Investigators also said the foundation had no records of annual committee meetings or annual reports submitted to the registrar, as required by law. They said it had paid taxes only during its first two years and, although it was a non-profit legal entity, was not exempt from tax and was required to declare its donation income.

Panadda won the Miss Thailand title in 2000 and later became an actress, television presenter and newsreader. Her charitable activities developed from a volunteer network supporting women, children and people affected by poverty, violence and disasters. The network became the registered Ongkorn Thamdee Foundation in 2022, with Panadda as chair and initial capital of B500,000.

The foundation said its work included flood relief, community kitchens, medical equipment and support during the Covid-19 pandemic. The arrests and warrants do not establish guilt.