CHIANG RAI – Dr. Doytibet Duchanee, son of the late national artist Thawan Duchanee, has cut all ties with a prominent local rescue foundation in Chiang Rai. The well-known philanthropist resigned after discovering suspicious financial activity within the charity.
Consequently, he is now calling on state authorities to audit the organization’s financial records from the past 10 years.
In a six-page public letter released on October 22, 2026, Dr. Doytibet explained that his resignation as vice president and advisor took effect on October 1. Before stepping down, he gave the foundation’s leadership several opportunities to explain how they managed public donations and charity assets. However, the executives failed to provide clear answers or valid receipts for several major financial transactions.
Key Takeaways
- Complete Resignation: Dr. Doytibet Duchanee stepped down from all leadership roles in the Chiang Rai rescue foundation after nearly 20 years of support.
- Suspected Misuse of Funds: He raised concerns over unverified cash withdrawals by certain board members and the questionable use of deceased children’s photos for fundraising.
- Call for State Audit: He urged Thai law enforcement, anti-money laundering officials, and tax authorities to investigate the foundation’s accounts going back 10 years.
For nearly 20 years, Dr. Doytibet worked closely with the foundation’s president and supported the rescue team in every possible way. As the director of the famous Baan Dam Museum (Black House) in Chiang Rai, he even placed donation boxes on the museum grounds to help raise money. Furthermore, he personally donated ambulances, COVID-19 patient transport vans, hydraulic rescue tools, diving gear, and coffins to help local residents in need.
Beyond providing medical and rescue equipment, Dr. Doytibet also gave personal funds to keep the charity running smoothly. At one point, he loaned the organization 350,000 baht to help clear its mounting debts without asking for any personal gain. Despite 35 years of operation and steady public support, he noticed that the foundation still lacked basic tools, vehicles, and trained staff.
Red Flags in Financial Management and Fundraising
Because the charity’s growth did not match the large amount of donations it received, Dr. Doytibet began looking closer at the books. During his review, he found troubling records suggesting that several board members had withdrawn large sums of charity money for personal use without explanation. In addition, he expressed concern that the group may have used photos of deceased accident victims, particularly children, to solicit public donations.
Following his departure, Dr. Doytibet warned the organization to immediately stop using his name, photos, signature, or the reputation of the Baan Dam Museum. He stated clearly that any attempt to mislead the public into thinking he still backs the charity’s fundraising will result in legal action. Meanwhile, he stressed that his complaints target specific individuals rather than the entire organization.
Demands for a Ten-Year Government Investigation
To protect public trust, Dr. Doytibet is asking multiple government agencies to step in and conduct a full legal investigation. Specifically, he called on the Department of Provincial Administration, the Royal Thai Police, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), and the Revenue Department. He told the Manager Online that he wants officials to check both the foundation’s bank accounts and any linked personal accounts.
He urged investigators to review 10 years of income and expense records, tax filings, and asset purchases to see if fraud or embezzlement occurred. If authorities find proof of wrongdoing, he wants the guilty parties prosecuted and the stolen money returned to the charity. Ultimately, Dr. Doytibet noted that he still respects and supports the honest rescue workers and volunteers who risk their lives to help the public every day.
