Thailand police have arrested a woman on July 15, 2025, who appears to have engaged in sexual relationships with at least nine monks. Wilawan Emsawat aka Ms Golf, a woman in her 30s, has been arrested in Bangkok for blackmailing and extorting millions from several monks by sending them various photos and videos of their affairs.
Wilawan Emsawat, faced with charges of extortion, blackmail, and money laundering for seducing at least nine monks and abbots at famous temples across multiple provinces. According to the Royal Thai Police Central Investigation Bureau, the monks who engaged in physical relationships with the accused have been stripped of their titles and cast out of monkhood.
It was revealed by Jaroonkiat Pankaew, a Central Investigation Bureau deputy commissioner, that the woman “had a relationship” with the monk in May 2024. She later demanded around 7.2 million baht, claiming that she was pregnant with his child. He further added that the woman is dangerous and “she had to be arrested as soon as possible.”
How did the scandal come out?
Monks are not supposed to interact with the opposite sex in any romantic or sexual manner, which is why most monks practise celibacy. The investigation into the Thailand sex scandal began after it was discovered that a monk from a famous temple in Bangkok had disappeared, raising suspicions and unexpectedly leading to a deeper investigation, said Jaroonkiat Pankaew.
During the investigation, police found that her phone contained around 80,000 photos, videos, and a series of texts that could have been used to blackmail the monks. As stated by the Thai police, Wilawan Emsawat received 385 million baht (about ₹101.7 crore) in the last three years through coercion and blackmail.
Wilawan also referred to Ms Golf by the police, who was particularly targeting older monks for money, and admitted in an interview with the Thai media that she received expensive gifts like a Mercedes-Benz SLK200. She even voiced that she feels guilty over forming these relationships.
Officials have raised further questions regarding the large amounts of donations made to the temples, which are overseen by the abbots, head of Buddhist temple . This raises concerns over whether the money is being misused. There has also been a recent surge in allegations of monks getting involved in drug trafficking and sex offences. In 2022, four monks and an abbot tested positive for drugs (methamphetamine) in the northern region of Phetchabun, Thailand.
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Jirayu Houngsum, Government spokesperson said that the acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has directed an order towards restricting and strengthening laws related to temples finances and monks on Tuesday.
The scandal has attracted widespread criticism of monks, who are expected to practise a high level of moral conduct and personal integrity. The monk sex scandal has not only shaken the spiritual foundations of Buddhist institutions but also sparked calls to review laws related to monks and temple donations in order to restore faith in the divinity and sanctity of temples.
Deputy Commissioner Jaroonkiat has shared that the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) posted on Facebook urging people to report monks who behave inappropriately. “We will investigate monks across the country… I believe that the ripple effects of this investigation will lead to a lot of changes," Jaroonkiat said. [Rh/VS]