Panadda Wongphudee, actress and president of the Good Deeds Foundation, has been suspended as part of an investigation into suspicious financial transactions linked to private real estate projects.
The Good Deeds Foundation has announced the temporary suspension of its president, actress and presenter Panadda « Bum » Wongphudee, while freezing donations pending the results of an internal investigation. This decision follows allegations that foundation funds were diverted to finance the construction of a private villa in Phuket, involving her husband, Athip « Got » Anantawan.
In a statement, the foundation specified that vice-president Pornpan Bhumarin would act as interim president. Donations are suspended until the review of accounts related to the Pathum Thani works is complete, while social actions continue within the limits of available resources.
The Pathum Thani project, with an estimated budget of 50 million baht, includes offices, warehouses and allegedly a reception centre for victims of violence. During an on-site inspection, journalists observed that several buildings remained unfinished and that the access road was still dirt, muddy and partially flooded.
A Phuket contractor claimed on a television channel that he had received approximately 45 million baht (~ €) from accounts linked to the foundation and Panadda Wongphudee, before being forced to transfer part of it to personal accounts. He also stated that he had never participated in the construction of the foundation’s facilities.
Furthermore, the Thai army confirmed that it would pursue legal action regarding the alleged occupation of state land in Nakhon Nayok province, where Athip Anantawan is said to have built a tourist complex without authorisation.
Sources : Bangkok Post, 2