Police investigating spending by beauty queen’s foundation

The Central Investigation Bureau is investigating allegations of fraud involving the huge fund of donations managed by the Goodness Foundation of former beauty queen Panadda "Boom" Wongphudee.

CIB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Nathasak Chaowanasai said on Monday that the investigation responded to a public-fraud accusation made by Boonyanuch Saengsri, who ran the Oilsri and Phong Phueak Facebook page.

“I have instructed detectives to look into many more aspects of the case… By next Monday, there will be clear findings,” Pol Lt Gen Nathasak said.

He said police will study the foundation's regulations, especially relating to the spending authority of the foundation's chair (Ms Panadda) and donation-spending rules, and look into whether donated funds were abused.

The Goodness Foundation started its activities in 2019 and was registered in 2024. It attracted huge interest, raising nearly one billion baht in donations.

The CIB chief acknowledged that Ms Boonyanuch, the complainant aka “Oilsri”, had donated 1,000 baht to the foundation. He said all donors would be damaged parties, regardless of the  amount, if the foundation was proven to be fraudulent.

Pol Lt Gen Nathasak said that police would accept further information on the matter, and would guarantee justice in their investigation.

Ms Panadda, now 50, was crowned Miss Thailand in 2000. She has played multiple roles - popular actress, influencer and social activist.

Last year the government appointed her spokeswoman for the Ad Hoc Centre for the Thailand-Cambodia Border Situation, to counter what Thai authorities called "fake news" eminating from Cambodia.