A charity scandal in Thailand is engulfing authorities after 527 million baht out of 815 million baht in donations was allegedly diverted for personal use, prosecutors say. Panadda “Boom” Wongphudee, a former Miss Thailand, was arrested on Nov 6 along with her husband, Atip Anantawan. They face charges including public fraud and money laundering. The Do Good Foundation, run by the couple, allegedly used donated money for credit card bills, luxury goods and construction of a Phuket pool villa. Prosecutors say the misuse happened after large donation campaigns, including social media drives for flood relief. Observers said the case reflects weaknesses in Thailand’s charity oversight. Under Thailand’s 1944 Fund Raising Control Act, charities must apply for a permit before fundraising and must periodically announce totals of money and property received and paid out. After investigations into the Do Good Foundation, authorities revealed on Nov 4 that it had failed to submit income and expenditure statements or annual balance sheets since its registration in 2022. Experts also criticised inconsistent enforcement and gaps between government departments, with oversight responsibilities passed from one agency to another. The arrests come after another major charity-related case, the September arrest of an abbot accused of embezzling 100 million baht from a historic monastery in Ayutthaya. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s office said a nationwide inspection of foundations aims to prevent front foundations and the use of donations for personal gain, with operations required to follow transparency and accountability rules. Wongphudee and her husband are charged and the wider inspection is ongoing.