Former Watchdog Director Sues Celebrity MC for Defamation
A former director of the Watchdog Thailand Foundation has filed a criminal defamation complaint against celebrity MC Narakorn "Ta" Tiyian over Facebook posts accusing the foundation of misappropriating funds. Rattiy, who spent ten years as an animal rescue volunteer before joining the foundation's leadership, denies any involvement in financial matters and says the posts damaged her reputation. She also plans to ask the Anti-Money Laundering Office to investigate the foundation's financial transparency.
A former vice president and director of the Watchdog Thailand Foundation has filed a police complaint against famous MC Narakorn "Ta" Tiyian for defamation under the Computer Crime Act, alleging the celebrity posted claims that the foundation transferred money for personal use.
On November 10, the Facebook page of news announcer Narakorn Tiyian posted a message calling for scrutiny of the WDT Watch Dog Thailand Foundation, stating that foundation funds had been transferred for personal use. A follow-up post warned anyone considering legal action over the exposure to "think carefully" or risk having "transfer slips slashed back."
At 11:00 AM at Nong Suea Police Station in Pathum Thani, Rattiy, 40, a former director of the Watchdog Thailand Foundation, filed a complaint with Lieutenant Colonel Saichon Adjai, Deputy Superintendent (Investigation), to pursue a case against Narakorn Tiyian for defamation under the Computer Crime Act.
Rattiy disclosed that she filed the complaint regarding the posts mentioning that the foundation's chairperson, directors, and executives had transferred large sums into personal accounts, damaging her reputation. Her involvement began with roughly ten years as an animal rescue volunteer, primarily serving as a representative to file complaints and pursue cases against animal abusers before being invited to join as a director and vice president in 2024 due to her interest in legal proceedings and animal welfare.
She continued working with the foundation until deciding to establish her own foundation with partly different objectives, prompting her resignation on August 8. Before the foundation announced structural changes and corruption issues on August 10 — creating an impression she might be involved — she had already left. On August 28, the foundation chairperson filed complaints against related parties. Subsequent discussions with internal foundation contacts clarified she had no knowledge of wrongdoing, was not involved in the foundation's legal proceedings, and would cooperate fully if summoned.
Rattiy stated that later posts from the opposing party led the public to believe she was the person referenced, as her name still appears prominently in Google searches for the Watchdog Thailand Foundation chairperson, and she has long been the public face of the foundation in media. She suffered reputational damage and decided to pursue a personal defamation case against the poster. Additionally, she is preparing a letter to the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) requesting an investigation into the foundation's transparency. If wrongdoing or lack of transparency is found, she wants strict legal action taken, including possible dissolution of the foundation.
"Throughout the approximately ten years we worked helping animals, we never interfered with donations or the foundation's accounting management, as we were responsible for field work. Public relations and donation collection were the admin's duty, while accounting and finance were handled by those directly responsible. I never knew monthly or annual donation amounts and never participated in spending those funds."
