The Chair of Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT) explained the controversy sparked by "Ta Narakorn" alleging that donation money was used for personal purposes. She noted the foundation discovered irregularities on its own after finding evidence of "kickback" schemes involving animal shelters and filed a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division in August.
On 10 Nov 2026, following the case where Ta Narakorn Tiyan, a well-known news anchor, posted on his personal Facebook page urging relevant agencies to investigate Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT) after receiving information that senior officials including the chair, board members, and treasurer used foundation funds for personal expenses. This sparked heavy criticism on social media demanding transparency and fact-checking.
Recently, Ms. Purita Wansak, Chair of Watchdog Thailand Foundation, clarified that the foundation had posted an explanation about this issue about three months ago, but it received little media attention. The issue began when irregularities were found in donation posts supporting various animal shelters on the foundation's page. It was later proven that some foundation staff illicitly demanded "kickbacks" from those shelters, causing significant harm since the foundation has no such policy.
Upon learning of this, the foundation held a meeting to restructure the entire board and conducted a review of bank statements dating back to 2019. They discovered clear irregular financial transactions and subsequently compiled all evidence to file a legal complaint with the Crime Suppression Division on 28 August.
Ms. Purita added that one person with suspicious behavior has been clearly identified and is under investigation by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to determine if relatives are involved. Police are also interviewing 30–40 witnesses connected through financial links, many of whom are not affiliated with the foundation. She emphasized that this misconduct was by a "former employee" and not by the current chair or board members.
On 11 Nov 2026, from approximately 13:00 to 14:00, she and her team will submit a letter to follow up on the case progress with the CIB at the Crime Suppression Division and hold an official press conference to clarify the facts to the public. They aim to expedite legal procedures, including issuing summonses, arrest warrants, and asset investigations to pursue criminal charges thoroughly. Regarding legal action against social media posters or commenters, no such steps are currently planned.
Additionally, the WDT Chair addressed accusations that the foundation exploits animals for profit, explaining this likely stems from misunderstandings about WDT’s work. The foundation does not primarily collect donations for animal treatment or care but focuses on coordinating and handling animal cruelty cases nationwide. It operates a "One Case, One Life Fund" to support legal teams and workers and rarely solicits donations except during disasters like floods, when it raises funds and supplies to aid affected animals. All processes are transparent and can be verified.