Phutta Talk Exposes Influencer Pond's 100 Million Baht Money Trail
The Phutta Talk program has exposed a financial trail exceeding 100 million baht flowing through personal and associate accounts of influencer Pond Jakkrit Tangat, founder of the Sai Thara Association in Rayong. Investigators found abandoned rescue vehicles at the association's address and raised questions about donation handling, tax compliance, and the source of wealth. Pond denies wrongdoing, attributing funds to amulet sales, gold trading, and social media income.
Phutta Aphiwan and Ice Sarawat's program Phutta Talk has exposed the financial movements of influencer Pond Jakkrit Tangat, founder of the Sai Thara Association, after he was found using personal bank accounts to accept donations. Over 100 million baht circulated through accounts belonging to Pond, his wife, and close associates. The production team inspected the association's premises in Rayong province and discovered more than 10 derelict pickup trucks and rescue vans parked on site, prompting questions about whether these were purchased with donation funds or personal money.
Further questions arise because the Sai Thara Association was established in 2020 with its own organizational account, yet Pond continued using personal accounts for donations in 2021. The program demands transparency across three accounts used historically, including the former 'Sai Thara Saphan Bun' account. Phutta Aphiwan remarked that Pond might be the next person police need to investigate.
Former association committee members informed the program that Pond controlled all financial decisions despite not being the formal chairman due to a past draft evasion case; instead, family members including his wife and foster father held official positions and authorized expenditures.
The investigation detailed financial flows across 10 accounts totaling over 100 million baht: Pond's Kasikorn Bank account with 84.3 million baht turnover including 4.6 million from overseas transfers linked to gold purchases; his Bangkok Bank account with 8.78 million baht turnover; five accounts under his wife's name with 30 million baht turnover across 395 transactions; a female friend's account receiving 1.75 million baht over 609 transfers; and two male associates' accounts receiving 3.98 million and 2.92 million baht respectively.
Phutta Aphiwan questioned the source of Pond's wealth given his only stated occupation is volunteer work, though he previously operated a now-closed liquor shop and a tattoo parlor. Pond explained transfers to the first male associate were for a construction contractor working with the association, insisting personal and association accounts are separate. He admitted buying and selling gold via an application using personal funds, and claimed overseas income came from Facebook earnings of several hundred thousand baht per month used to purchase gold, denying any donation money was used.
Pond denied misusing foundation funds, stating vehicles must be registered in his name because using the association's name is complicated. Transfers to his wife were for family support, and high turnover resulted from selling Taw Waes Suwan amulets and Buddha images.
Phutta Aphiwan pressed whether Pond paid taxes on the 100+ million baht if unrelated to donations, noting discrepancies would trigger immediate scrutiny. He challenged the claim of 100 million baht in amulet sales, demanding transaction counterparts come forward or the case is effectively proven.
