Police Arrest Influencer in 815 Million Baht Donation Fraud
Thai police arrested influencer Panadda "Boom" Wongphudi and an associate for allegedly misappropriating over 815 million baht in public donations solicited through a foundation. Funds meant for flood victims and the poor were reportedly spent on luxury goods, property, investments, and laundered through construction projects. Raids at four locations seized luxury vehicles, designer bags, firearms, land documents, and financial records.
On November 7, 2026, at the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Pol. Maj. Gen. Suwat Saengnum, Deputy Commander, and Pol. Maj. Gen. Thasaphum Charuphrachaya, Chief of the Anti-Corruption Division, along with relevant officers, announced the arrest of Ms. Panadda Wongphudi and Mr. Athip Ananthawan.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Thasaphum stated that a group of victims and donors filed complaints with investigators at the Anti-Corruption Division after being invited via social media to donate money for charitable purposes, including flood victims and the poor. However, they later discovered the donations were not used for their intended purposes, prompting legal action.
The investigation found that the suspects leveraged their fame, public persona, and social work to solicit donations through a Facebook page, specifying personal bank accounts alongside a foundation account. The account names created the impression they were official charity accounts, leading the public to transfer large sums. Total donations exceeded 800 million baht, split between personal accounts (over 600 million) and the foundation account (over 200 million).
After receiving the funds, money was transferred from donation accounts into the suspects' personal accounts and those of close associates for personal use, including credit card payments, luxury brand purchases, and mutual fund investments. Additionally, funds were moved through construction contracts for luxury buildings and pool villas in Phuket and Pathum Thani, with money transferred to contractors before being circulated back as cash and transfers to the suspects' accounts. Funds were also used to acquire land holdings across multiple provinces.
The investigation also revealed the foundation had never prepared or submitted annual financial status reports or balance sheets to the registrar as required by law, indicating fraudulent intent to misuse public donations for personal gain.
Regarding Mr. Athip, preliminary findings show no direct involvement in deceiving the public, but he engaged in asset transfers and receipt of funds, constituting money laundering behavior. Following court-approved arrest warrants, search teams raided four locations:
1. A luxury residence in the Kaset-Nawamin area, Lat Phrao, Bangkok — Ms. Panadda's residence. Seized: a luxury Toyota Alphard, valuable assets, jewelry, 32 designer bags, 5 firearms, electronic devices, and bank passbooks. 2. The Foundation for Good Deeds office, Khlong 8, Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani. Seized: 5 foundation vehicles, 1 personal vehicle, 130 receipt books, documents, silver-like bars, and CCTV hard drives. 3. A residence in Bueng Kham sub-district, Nong Suea, Pathum Thani. Seized: land title documents and buy-sell contracts for land in Krabi and Phuket. 4. The former foundation building, Soi Ram Inthra 23, Bang Khen, Bangkok. Inspected for documentary evidence and the foundation's original location to gather case evidence.
All four searches yielded evidence relevant to the case.
