Charity boss suspended - Bangkok Post

Panadda “Bum” Wongphudee, a well-known actress, television host, social advocate and Miss Thailand 2000, is currently at the centre of a public controversy involving her charity and land disputes linked to her husband. The Good Deeds Foundation has temporarily suspended its president, actress Panadda “Bum” Wongphudee, and halted donations pending an investigation into financial transactions linked to the construction of its facilities in Pathum Thani. 

The move comes amid allegations that foundation funds were diverted to a private property development.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the foundation’s legal team said vice-chair Pornpan Bhumarin had been appointed acting president while the investigation proceeds.

The foundation said it would suspend donations through all channels until its examination of construction-related finances and the conduct of those involved was completed.

However, its social assistance activities would continue, subject to available resources and personnel.

The controversy centres on the foundation’s construction project at Rangsit Khlong 8, comprising offices, storage facilities, parking areas, staff accommodation and a coffin donation centre.

The premises are also intended to provide temporary shelter for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, as well as people displaced by disasters.

According to the foundation, a person close to Ms Panadda volunteered to oversee the project. As president, she authorised payments based on information supplied by the coordinator, with funds transferred directly to the contractor. 

However, the foundation said the coordinator held all construction-related documents and had yet to be contacted to provide records for verification.

The final construction budget remains under review because the project is unfinished, although roads, storage facilities and offices are already in use.

The foundation said Ms Panadda had intended the facilities to become a public asset supporting future volunteer operations, particularly disaster relief and assistance to vulnerable people.

It pledged to investigate questions surrounding the construction payments and pursue legal action against anyone found to have committed wrongdoing.

It also said reports that the contractor had denied involvement would be examined against available evidence.

Separately, a Phuket-based contractor alleged that money from the foundation had been transferred into his account during construction of a private pool villa development involving Ms Panadda’s husband, Athip “Got” Anantawan.

Speaking on the television programme Hone-Krasae, the contractor claimed Mr Athip subsequently instructed him to return portions of the money to personal accounts.

He said construction of the Phuket project began in April 2025, initially as a holiday home on land registered in Ms Panadda’s name.

The plan was later expanded into an eight-villa development, with projected sales revenue of approximately 180 million baht and construction costs estimated at 64 million baht.

The contractor said construction payments came from three accounts belonging to Ms Panadda, Mr Athip and the “Good Deeds Foundation by Ms Panadda”.

He alleged that whenever payments arrived from the foundation account, Mr Athip would instruct him to transfer the money back.

The contractor estimated that he received about 45 million baht in total and returned more than 20 million baht through bank transfers and cash transactions.

He also claimed to have spent about 7 million baht on construction and site operations, but said Mr Athip later became difficult to contact and failed to sign their agreement, prompting him to seek reimbursement for expenses incurred.

During the programme, a transfer slip was presented showing a payment of 688,619.35 baht from the foundation account on Jan 31, 2026.

The amount reportedly matched an instalment due for the second villa.

The contractor maintained that he had no involvement in constructing the foundation’s facilities.

He said he sought legal assistance over tax concerns arising from large deposits into his account and a separate land encroachment complaint.

Meanwhile, the Royal Thai Army confirmed it would pursue legal action over allegations that Mr Athip occupied state land under army supervision in Ban Na district of Nakhon Nayok, without permission.

Army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree said the land was allegedly used for a resort and trail-running facility. He stressed that documents permitting occupation or use of state land did not confer ownership rights.

Maj Gen Winthai said the alleged occupation appeared relatively recent compared with other cases in the area.

The army will assess individual cases and enforce the law against unauthorised occupation, while considering whether the land was being used for livelihood or commercial purposes, he noted.