Couple Jailed After Faking Divorce to Hide Charity Fraud
Thai influencers Boon Pannada and Got Athip Samee have been jailed after the Central Investigation Bureau uncovered a 900 million baht charity fraud scheme. The couple staged a tearful divorce announcement to distance Boon from the crime, but investigators found 80% of foundation donations were funneled into their personal accounts for luxury spending. Both were denied bail and remanded in custody on charges of fraud, money laundering, and computer crimes.
Timeline reveals Boon Pannada tearfully announced her separation from husband Got Athip Samee after he was raided in a forest, before both were taken into custody in a foundation donation fraud case. On November 7, 2026, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) updated progress on the arrests, stating behavioral evidence showed the couple continued living together as husband and wife. Their earlier press conference announcing a split and fabricated disputes was merely a staged ploy to deceive the public and sever Boon's link to the crimes. The husband admitted he acted on orders, while Boon confessed to handling all money transfer transactions. Previously on October 27, 2026, Boon held a tearful press conference announcing their separation and plans to register a divorce the next day, while addressing her husband's forest encroachment land in Nakhon Nayok province, insisting she had no knowledge or involvement. She also claimed their relationship had grown distant with separate bedrooms since late 2024, alleging the husband stole 7 million baht from their child's safe, plus debt issues and an affair with a 17-18 year old. Later, questions arose about donations to a charitable foundation, with lawyers Kung and Oi-sri filing police complaints to investigate the donations and foundation establishment. Police found the foundation received over 900 million baht in donations but only 20% entered the foundation system, while 80% was transferred to Boon's personal account then to the husband for personal spending on luxury brands, pool villas, and the Nakhon Nayok trail track land. Authorities subsequently seized assets including houses, land, 22 luxury cars, six firearms, and bank accounts worth over 100 million baht. On November 5, 2026, police gathered evidence seeking arrest warrants for Boon Pannada and Got Athip on charges of public fraud, money laundering, and Computer Crimes Act violations. On the morning of November 6, police apprehended Boon at a luxury residence in Bang Kapi, Bangkok, while Got surrendered. Latest today (November 7), investigators escorted both to court detention. Boon declined bail while the husband's bail request was denied by the Criminal Court, and both were immediately sent to prison.
