Charity President Arrested for Donation Fraud and Money Laundering
Former beauty queen and charity foundation president Panadda 'Bum' Wongphudee has been arrested on charges of misusing donated funds and money laundering. The scandal has devastated longtime donors in Khon Kaen, including one woman who proudly wore the foundation's shirt and admired Bum's disaster relief work. She now says she cannot bear to wear the shirt and has repurposed it as a cat bed, calling this betrayal more painful than previous temple scandals.
Faith shattered and hearts broken after learning 'Bum Panadda' used a cherished foundation shirt as a cat bed — a disappointment worse than the Luang Por Alongkot Wat Phra Bat Nam Phu scandal.
November 8 — Following the wave of news surrounding the case of 'Bum' Panadda Wongphudee, former beauty queen and president of the Tham Dee Foundation, who was arrested by the court on charges related to the foundation's donations — including misappropriation of donated funds for personal use and money laundering — reporters visited Khon Kaen province to speak with locals who had continuously donated money and supported the foundation's activities.
Mrs. Rinaphaon Inthapanich said she was heartbroken when she first saw the news. She hoped it was just fake news, perhaps stirred up by opponents. At first she refused to follow the story. But as more reports emerged, culminating in whistleblower Katchai revealing the money trail, she accepted the reality with sorrow, as she was one of those who had donated to the foundation — even buying and proudly wearing the Tham Dee Foundation shirt. She took pride in Ms. Bum Panadda, admiring a capable woman who was always among the first to deploy to disaster zones nationwide. But after this, she says she dares not wear the shirt anymore. Recently, she has used it as a cat mattress instead.
She is someone who likes to make merit with many foundations. Previously she also supported Wat Phra Bat Nam Phu under Luang Por Alongkot, until scandal hit there too. But this time is the most heartbreaking and disappointing because with Ms. Bum, 'we trusted her.' After this, when donating to other foundations, she may need to consider more carefully. But she still holds one belief: if we make merit, the merit stays with us. The person who receives it and uses it for wrongdoing bears the sin.
