Arrest warrants issued for ‘Boom’ and husband

Actress Panadda “Boom” Wongphudee was waiting for police to arrive at her Bangkok home on Thursday evening, after the Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in connection with alleged misuse of donations made to her Goodness Foundation.

The former Miss Thailand and her husband, Atip “Got” Anantawan, face charges of public fraud, money laundering and violations of the Computer Crime Act.

Speaking to reporters outside her home at a housing estate in the Nawamin area of Bangkok at about 7pm, Ms Panadda said she was experiencing a mix of emotions but was trying to prepare herself mentally for what lay ahead.

She said she had entrusted her youngest children, aged 4 and 2, to their grandmother, adding that she was the family’s main breadwinner.

She also expressed deep concern for her eldest daughter Anda, 20. She said the only family members left to look after one another were her 76-year-old mother, the two young children and Anda.

“How will they take care of one another?” she asked.

Ms Panadda’s lawyer said he and his client had been waiting for police since mid-afternoon when news broke that the court had approved the arrest warrants.

He said his client was prepared to enter the legal process and had no intention of fleeing. Unconfirmed media reports on Thursday evening said that police planned to come to Ms Panadda’s home on Friday morning.

The lawyer said he remained confident in his client’s good faith and hoped the court would grant her temporary release.

However, he said she would accept the decision if bail was denied.

Investigators in recent days have been examining financial transactions and assets linked to the case, and have seized or frozen several items belonging to Ms Panadda and those close to her, including family members. (Story continues below)

Actress Panadda “Boom” Wongphudee and her lawyer greet reporters outside her housing estate in the Nawamin area of Bangkok on Thursday evening. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)

Complainants come forward

Meanwhile, social media influences and other donors have begun filing formal complaints against Ms Panadda and her foundation.

Lawyer Sittra Biebangkerd on Thursday brought 10 people to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to file complaints against the Goodness Foundation, alleging misuse of donations intended to help flood victims and people living in border areas.

Mr Sittra said the complainants had donated amounts ranging from thousands to tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of baht.

However, reports that the money had been used for other than the stated purposes had raised concerns, prompting them to seek an investigation, said the celebrity lawyer.

He said several donors had approached him, saying they had believed the foundation was trustworthy and that their donations would reach people in need.

Reports about the alleged use of donated funds to build a pool villa and cover other expenses had left them distressed, he said. (Story continues below)

Khongkwan Fuchitnirun, a businesswoman and beauty clinic owner, shows proof of a 100,000-baht donation she made to the Goodness Foundation, chaired by the embattled actress and former Miss Thailand Panadda “Boom” Wongphudee. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)

Money for flood victims

A female complainant, whose name was withheld, said she had donated 90,000 baht in November last year to help flood victims in Hat Yai.

She said she had trusted the foundation and followed Ms Panadda’s work for a long time. News that the donations had not reached their intended recipients left her shocked and upset.

She said the money had been intended to help people affected by disasters and, if refunded, she would donate it to a hospital instead.

Khongkwan Fuchitnirun, a celebrity beauty clinic owner better known as Mor (Dr) Khongkwan, also came to the CIB to demand an accounting for the 100,000 baht she had donated.

She said many people she knew, and friends who had trusted Ms Panadda, were disappointed and saddened by the allegations.

Earlier, police froze 17 bank accounts containing about 60 million baht belonging to people linked to Ms Panadda and her husband.

Pol Maj Gen Thatphum Jaruprat, commander of the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD), said on Wednesday that investigators were examining other assets linked to the celebrity couple, including houses, cars and other items, to establish their ownership histories and determine when they were acquired.

Lawyer Sittra Biebangkerd speaks to reporters on Thursday at the police Central Investigation Bureau, where he had brought 10 donors to file complaints against the Goodness Foundation for misuse of funds. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)