Actress 'Boom' arrested; as husband surrenders to police

Police apprehended Panadda "Boom" Wongphudee at her house on Friday while her husband, Atip "Got" Anantawan, surrendered to authorities to fight serious charges, including public fraud and money laundry.

Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) authorities arrested the 50-year-old actress outside her residence at 6.30am in Bueng Kum district, Bangkok, while walking to talk to the press.

The arrest followed warrants issued for the couple on Thursday evening, and police waited until daybreak the following day to take action. Ms Panadda, who is a social activist and president of the Goodness Foundation, was still in her house with her lawyer since the issuance of the warrants.

CIB police also searched her residence after the arrest and another team went inside her two foundation offices in Thanya Buri district in Pathum Thani province and Bang Khen district, Bangkok, on Friday, looking for more evidence to substantiate the charges.

Ms Panadda and Mr Atip face three charges on misuse of the fund, money laundry and violation of the Computer Crime Act after donations to the fund have been allegedly channelled for personal use.

Mr Atip, who is a real estate investor and fitness professional, arrived at the Crime Suppression Division, a unit under the CIB, to surrender to authorities, a day after the arrest warrants.

Ms Panadda, who was Miss Thailand in 2000, are at the CIB office for questioning.