Police hunt Panadda's hidden designer-bag stash

Police are hunting down a collection of genuine designer bags they believe may have been hidden by accused charity fraudster and former Miss Thailand Panadda “Boom” Wongphudee.

Pol Maj Gen Thatphum Charuprat, commander of the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD), revealed this on Tuesday when updating reporters on progress in investigating the alleged abuse of hundreds of millions of baht in donations made to Ms Panadda's Goodness Foundation, which she founded and chairs. 

ECD investigators have summonsed Apiwut "Ar-ngoon" Pumpa, the foundation's treasurer, to explain the transfer of 36 million baht by Ms Panadda to his bank account, Pol Maj Gen Thatphum said.

Apiwut had initially told investigators he would appear on Friday and would bring relevant documents and provide an explanation.

Officials from the Phuket and Nakhon Nayok provincial land offices, where the Goodness Foundation’s pool villa and a trail-running course are sited, and foundation committee members who have been summonsed, have gradually been providing information about the foundation's operations, Pol Maj Gen Thatphum said.

Representatives of leading luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton and Hermès, had requested a postponement of their examination of 32 designer handbags seized earlier.  Initially believed to be counterfeit, the bags were due to be inspected on Tuesday, but the examination has been rescheduled for Nov 11.

A source said investigators found that genuine designer handbags had been moved by car and taken to two or three locations, which had been identified and investigators would seek search warrants in the next day or two.

Investigators have also found information suggesting that the transfers were well planned, with an adviser allegedly directing the operation behind the scenes. Police were considering whether the movement of the seized assets could constitute an offence.

Regarding a donation of 5 million baht to Ms Panadda's foundation by Phanya Nirunkul, executive of Workpoint Entertainment, Pol Maj Gen Thatphum said police had already asked whether he would be available to provide information as a witness.

Ms Panadda, 50, who was Miss Thailand in 2000, and her husband Atip Anantawan, 53, who was Mr Universe 2006, were charged with public fraud, money laundering and computer crime in their campaigning for donations to her Goodness Foundation. More than 800 million baht was reportedly raised. 

Police investigators allege most of the money was abused for personal benefit, not for flood and disaster relief as touted.

The couple were arrested on Friday and remanded in custody. Panadda was detained at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution and Atip was sent to the Bangkok Reman Prison. The investigation is continuing.

On Tuesday, another alleged charity fraud victim, Winlaphat Srisakulmekhee, known as “Madam Pam, owner of popular Facebook page Madampam Makeup by Winlaphat, filed a complaint against the Goodness Foundation. She was accompanied by her lawyer Kanyasinee Piromrotwatjana, 

The complainant submitted evidence of two bank transfers of 30,000 baht each in 2024 and 2025, asking police to consider legal action against Ms Panadda’s foundation.

Ms Winlaphat said she had been deeply saddened by the events surrounding the foundation and did not want the matter to quietly disappear. She said many of her fans and followers had also donated substantial amounts of money to the foundation.

Another alleged charity fraud victim Winlaphat Srisakulmekhee, known as “Madam Pam, owner of popular Facebook page Madampam Makeup by Winlaphat, files a complaint with the Central Investigation Bureau against the Goodness Foundation on Tuesday. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)