
Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra faces royal defamation trial in Bangkok
Thaksin faces up to 15 years in prison if he is convicted in the closed-door trial in Bangkok, where

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NZ Herald
5 days ago
- NZ Herald
Thai scandal: Proposal to prosecute women for sex with monks sparks misogyny claim
Women should be prosecuted for having sex with monks, Thai politicians have proposed, after a nationwide scandal over an alleged 'blackmailing seductress'. At least nine monks have been disrobed for allegedly having sex with a woman accused of subsequently extorting them for millions. A committee in the Senate has proposed

1News
6 days ago
- 1News
Thai police charge woman with seducing and blackmailing Buddhist monks
Police in Thailand arrested a woman today who allegedly enticed a string of Buddhist monks into sexual relationships and then pressured them into making large payments to cover up their intimacy. The possible violation of the celibacy rule for monks has rocked Buddhist institutions and gripped public attention in Thailand in recent weeks. At least nine abbots and senior monks involved in the scandal have been disrobed and cast out of the monkhood, the Royal Thai Police Central Investigation Bureau said. Wilawan Emsawat, in her mid-30s, was arrested at her home in Nonthaburi province north of the capital Bangkok on charges including extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen goods. Police said they traced money transferred to her by a senior monk from a bank account belonging to his temple in northern Thailand. Wilawan has not made a statement since her arrest and it was unclear if she has legal representation. Speaking to local media before her arrest, she acknowledged one relationship and said she had given money to that monk. Scandals involving monks surfaced a few times a year in Thailand but usually didn't involve senior members of the clergy. The case also put a spotlight on the large sums of money donated to temples controlled by abbots, which was in marked contrast to the abstemious lives they were supposed to lead under their religion's precepts. ADVERTISEMENT Wilawan deliberately targeted senior monks for financial gain, police said, noting they found several monks had transferred large amounts of money after Wilawan initiated romantic relationships with them. Wilawan's bank accounts received around 385 million baht (NZ$19.85 million) in the past three years, but most of the funds were spent on gambling websites, police said. Buddhist monks (file image). (Source: Jaroonkiat Pankaew, a Central Investigation Bureau deputy commissioner, said the investigation began last month after an abbot of a famous temple in Bangkok abruptly left the monkhood. Investigators found the abbot had allegedly been blackmailed by Wilawan over their romantic relationship. She told the monk she was pregnant and asked him to pay 7.2 million baht (NZ$370,000) in financial assistance, Jaroonkiat said at a news conference in Bangkok today. Police believed "this woman is dangerous and we needed to arrest her as soon as possible', Jaroonkiat said. Thai media reported a search of her mobile phones revealed tens of thousands of photos and videos, as well as numerous chat logs indicating intimacy with several monks, many of which could be used for blackmail. ADVERTISEMENT Thai monks were largely members of the Theravada sect, which required them to be celibate and refrain from even touching a woman. Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai ordered authorities to review and consider tightening existing laws related to monks and temples, especially the transparency of temple finances, to restore faith in Buddhism, government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub said today. The Central Investigation Bureau has set up a Facebook page for people to report monks who misbehave, Jaroonkiat said. 'We will investigate monks across the country,' he said. 'I believe that the ripple effects of this investigation will lead to a lot of changes.'


NZ Herald
16-07-2025
- NZ Herald
Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra faces royal defamation trial in Bangkok
Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is set to testify in court on Wednesday, seeking to defend himself against royal defamation charges in a watershed case for his faltering political dynasty. Thaksin faces up to 15 years in prison if he is convicted in the closed-door trial in Bangkok, where