Police say Boom Panadda staged split from husband before both were jailed over donation fraud

BANGKOK —The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on 7 November provided an update on the arrests of actress and activist Panadda “Boom” Wongphudee and her husband, Got Athip, saying evidence indicated the couple were still living together as husband and wife.

Police alleged that an earlier press conference in which Boom announced their separation, along with claims that the couple had fallen out, had been staged to mislead the public and prevent wrongdoing from being linked back to Boom.

Police said Got admitted he had acted on instructions, while Boom admitted responsibility for carrying out all of the money transfers.

The case follows a tearful press conference held by Boom on 27 October, when she announced that she was separating from Got and seeking a divorce. The couple were reportedly scheduled to register their divorce the following day.

At the press conference, Boom also addressed allegations that her husband had encroached on forest land in Nakhon Nayok province, insisting she had no knowledge of or involvement in the matter.

Boom also claimed that her relationship with Got had deteriorated and that the couple had been sleeping in separate rooms since late 2024.

She alleged that she had discovered Got had taken 7 million baht in money intended as a gift for their child from a safe. She also cited debts and allegations involving his relationship with a 17- or 18-year-old.

Questions later emerged over donations to the Doing Good Organisation Foundation, raised publicly by lawyer Kung and Oil Sri, eventually leading to complaints asking police to investigate the foundation’s donations, spending and establishment.

Police said their financial investigation found that more than 900 million baht in donations had been received in connection with the foundation, but only around 20% entered the foundation’s system.

According to police, the remaining 80% was transferred into Boom’s personal accounts before being sent on to her husband for personal spending, including purchases of luxury goods, construction of a pool villa and land used for a trail facility in Nakhon Nayok.

Authorities subsequently seized assets including houses, land, 22 luxury vehicles, six firearms and bank accounts with a combined value of more than 100 million baht.

On 5 November, Economic Crime Suppression Division police gathered evidence and obtained arrest warrants for Boom Panadda and Got Athip on charges including public fraud, money laundering and offences under the Computer Crime Act.

On the morning of 6 November, police detained Boom at her luxury home in Bangkok’s Bueng Kum district, while Got later surrendered to police.

On 7 November, investigators brought Boom and Got to the Criminal Court to seek their detention.

Boom decided not to apply for bail, while Got submitted a bail request. The Criminal Court rejected his application, and Corrections Department officials subsequently transferred both Boom and her husband to prison.