Police Freeze 102M Baht, Seize Assets in Foundation Probe
Thai police have arrested a couple linked to the Foundation for Doing Good, freezing 18 bank accounts holding about 102 million baht and seizing property documents. Both suspects deny the charges; the wife faces fraud and money laundering allegations, while the husband is currently charged only with money laundering. Investigators are tracing suspicious circular transfers between foundation and personal accounts, including funds used to purchase land in Nakhon Nayok, and have opposed bail for the pair.
On November 6, Pol. Maj. Gen. Tasphon Charoenratcha, commander of the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), disclosed that officers arrested Ms. Panadda Wongphudee (Buam Panadda) and Mr. Athip Nanthawan (Got), her husband, and searched four target locations earlier that morning. Police are currently collecting all evidence from the searches and categorizing it. Both suspects have denied all allegations.
Investigators have frozen 18 accounts bearing the names of Ms. Panadda, Mr. Athip, and outside individuals linked to the Foundation for Doing Good to trace financial flows totaling roughly 102 million baht. Regarding whether the money trail connects to the foundation's vice president and directors, police say they have information and are gathering evidence but are focusing on the two main suspects first.
Mr. Athip currently faces a single charge of money laundering. Police have not yet found evidence linking him to the fraud charge; he appears to be a beneficiary. An official press conference is set for 10:00 tomorrow.
Investigators also reported finding registered assets in both names — houses, vehicles, and land — matching prior intelligence. Documents for land and vehicle purchases were discovered, while other assets are undergoing detailed system verification.
Financial trails show three foundation-related accounts: the Doing Good Organization account under Panadda Wongphudee, the Foundation for Doing Good account, and the Foundation for Doing Good Construction Fund account under Panadda Wongphudee. Abnormal circular transfers were found before funds moved into Ms. Panadda's personal account and then to Mr. Athip's personal accounts. One foundation account also transferred money to buy land in Nakhon Nayok for a trail field.
Officers are verifying the source and land purchase details since ownership is unclear and the original title was Crown Property with military use rights, requiring careful review before seizing the land. However, any assets and structures on the trail field found to be illicit can be seized immediately.
Although Mr. Athip was initially arrested only for money laundering — based on behavior converting donations into assets and spending elsewhere — police are expanding the investigation. If evidence of collusion in fraud emerges, additional charges will follow.
Investigators have opposed bail for both suspects due to the severe penalties and flight/tampering risks. Police are preparing to widen the financial and behavioral probe to other individuals in Ms. Panadda's network who received transfers from foundation accounts, to determine whether the money trail constitutes collusion in fraud.
