Police Summon Foundation Officials in Bua Panadda Fraud Investigation
Thailand's Economic Crime Suppression Division has summoned foundation committee members, including treasurer 'Angoon' and contractor 'Chang A,' in the expanding investigation into the Good Deeds Organization Foundation linked to influencer Bua Panadda. Police have frozen 48 bank accounts and traced over 73 million baht in suspicious transfers to personal and company accounts. Authorities are also preparing to question Bua Panadda's father and a Chiang Mai businessman as the probe advances toward the 84-day detention deadline.
On November 9, Pol. Lt. Col. Thasaphumi Charuprasert, commander of the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD), disclosed progress in the 'Good Deeds Organization Foundation' case. Officials have summoned Mr. Apiwut Bhumpha, alias 'Angoon,' a foundation committee member and treasurer, to give a statement next week after discovering financial trails from the foundation's accounts transferred to his four personal accounts totaling over 36 million baht. He must explain what the money was used for and whether anyone else was involved.
Pol. Lt. Col. Thasaphumi said Mr. Apiwut is a key target placed in Group 2, which also includes the foundation's vice chairman and two other committee members, totaling three additional people summoned for questioning. The investigation of this committee group will focus on the foundation's operations, particularly finances, accounting, and meetings, to determine whether they complied with foundation management regulations.
Pol. Lt. Col. Thasaphumi added that Mr. Apichat, alias 'Chang A,' a construction contractor for a pool villa project in Phuket, is also in Group 2. Funds totaling over 37 million baht were transferred into both his personal accounts and those of two companies. Another individual, 'Chang Em,' a contractor in Pathum Thani, is also in Group 2 because he received transfers from Mr. Athip Ananthawan, alias 'Got,' the husband of Ms. Panadda Wongphudi, and those funds originated from the foundation.
Regarding Group 3, investigators are still gathering information before issuing further summonses. This group includes Ms. Panadda's father, who received over 4.6 million baht from the foundation into his personal account, and a Chiang Mai businessman who received 880,000 baht.
Pol. Lt. Col. Thasaphumi also stated that an additional 30 related accounts have been frozen, bringing the total to 48 frozen accounts. He confirmed the investigation can be completed within the 84-day combined detention period because a dedicated task force has been established and other agencies are jointly reviewing key evidence.
Reporters noted that on November 8, an electrician contacted ECD investigators after his bank account was frozen, preventing withdrawals. He was instructed to contact the Central Investigation Bureau to give a statement on whether his account was linked to donations in the Good Deeds Organization Foundation case involving Bua Panadda.
