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India Today
4 days ago
- India Today
80,000 sex videos, Rs 100-crore extortion: Scandal rocks Thailand's monks
It started with the sudden disappearance of a senior monk from a Bangkok temple in June. The Houdini act prompted an investigation, which uncovered a saga of blackmail, sex, extortion, rocking Thailand's much-revered Buddhist institution, The Guardian investigation into the disappearance of senior monk Phra Thep Wachirapamok led police to the residence of a woman named "Ms Golf", who has been identified as Wilawan searches, the police stumbled upon mobile phones containing tens of thousands (around 80,000) of intimate photos and videos of Emsawat with Wachirapamok and several other monks. The incident came as a bolt out of the blue for Thailand, whose monks are known as world renouncers and strictly follow their vow of IS MS GOLF, AKA WILAWAN EMSAWAT? Emsawat, 30, was arrested and charged with extortion and money laundering. Her modus operandi involved seducing monks, recording intimate moments with them, and extorting huge sums of money by threatening to leak the far, police have found that Emsawat had relations with at least nine monks, who have now been defrocked, The Guardian reported. She received around 385 million baht (over Rs 102 crore) over the past three years from the the missing monk is yet to be traced. Police said Emsawat had a relationship with the monk in May 2024. She claimed to have given birth to his baby and demanded child support of more than seven million baht (1.90 crore).A probe into her bank accounts revealed that other monks had also transferred large amounts of money. She also received private gifts from monks as well as lavish items like a Mercedes-Benz SLK200. Police found that most funds were spent on online Emsawat, speaking to local media before her arrest, claimed she was involved in only one relationship, and she gave money to that ROCKS THAILANDWith the scandal garnering global headlines, Thai police have opened a hotline for people to tip off on "misbehaving monks".The case has also drawn police attention to the large sums of money donated to Buddhist temples. The money is controlled by senior monks, known as scandal has prompted Thailand's acting Prime Minister to order a review of laws governing monk behaviour and temple finances. The Sangha Supreme Council, the governing body for Buddhism in Thailand, has also formed a special committee to review regulations.- EndsTune InTrending Reel
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
80,000 nude files, Rs 102 crore in extortion: How a sex scandal toppled Thailand's top monks
It started with a whisper inside temple walls. A respected abbot vanished overnight. Rumours swirled — of sex, blackmail, and betrayal. And then came the name: Wilawan Emsawat. But what started as a string of silenced scandals has now exploded into a national reckoning. Nine senior monks — abbots, no less — have been defrocked. Others are in hiding. Here is what happened? and how it came out? Wilawan Emsawat, also known as 'Ms Golf', was arrested this week from her luxury home in Nonthaburi, just outside Bangkok. In her mid-30s, Wilawan is accused of orchestrating a massive blackmail racket targeting Buddhist monks across Thailand. Police say she seduced monks, recorded intimate moments with them, and extorted large sums of money to keep the videos private. She's been charged with extortion, money laundering, and receiving stolen property. Investigators found thousands of explicit photos and videos involving monks on her devices, which were allegedly used for blackmail over a period of three years. Wilawan has not yet commented fully on the charges against her, and it remains unclear whether she has legal representation. However, as per The Guardian, in a televised interview with Thai media on Wednesday, she acknowledged having romantic relationships with two monks and a religious scholar. She claimed the men lavished her with expensive gifts — including a Mercedes-Benz SLK200, large bank transfers, and even a personal debit card. While speaking candidly, Wilawan expressed remorse over the entanglements, admitting she had genuinely fallen in love. The Royal Thai Police say Wilawan extorted approximately 385 million baht (Rs 102 crore) over the last few years. Her operation reportedly followed a pattern — she would befriend the monk, lure him into a relationship, obtain compromising material, and then begin making financial demands. Some monks admitted to falling in love with her; one said she gave him a car. 'We checked her financial trail and found that it involves many temples,' an official from the Thai police's central investigation bureau told a press briefing on Tuesday, The Guardian reported. 'After we seized her mobile, we checked and found that there are several monks involved, and several clips and Line chats,' he added, referring to the popular messaging app. According to the BBC, over 80,000 nude images and videos were recovered, including footage shot in Wilawan's home. Authorities say the money was partly funneled into illegal online gambling. The scandal first surfaced in mid-June when the abbot of the prestigious Wat Tri Thotsathep monastery abruptly left the monkhood. Police now say he was one of Wilawan's targets and fled after being blackmailed, with a a demand of 7 million baht in child support. Wilawan has since claimed that he fathered her child. So far, nine monks — including several abbots — have been defrocked, and at least two have gone into hiding. A Thai senate committee is considering a controversial legal amendment to criminalise women who have sex with monks — a proposal that has triggered criticism from gender rights advocates. Bangkok Post columnist Sanitsuda Ekachai condemned the narrative framing monks as victims and women as seductresses. She pointed out that traditional Buddhist teachings in Thailand often portray women as threats to male spiritual purity — a belief that has long blocked women from becoming fully ordained monks (Bhikkhunis). 'Women have long been depicted in mainstream teachings as 'enemies' of monks' spiritual purity. Some temple murals even show them as snakes. That's why the clergy still bans women from Bhikkhuni ordination.' 'This scandal exposes a system of lies and hypocrisy among senior monks,' Ekachai wrote. 'The sheer number suggests this isn't an isolated case. It's business as usual behind temple walls.' Religious scholars say the core issue lies in the rigid hierarchical structure of the monkhood, which discourages whistleblowing. 'It is an authoritarian system similar to the Thai bureaucracy where senior monks are like high-ranking officials and junior monks are their subordinates,' religious scholar Suraphot Thaweesak told BBC Thai. 'When they see something inappropriate, they do not dare to speak up because it is very easy to be kicked out of the temple.' More than 90% of Thais identify as Buddhists, with over 200,000 monks and nearly 85,000 novices at any time. While scandals involving monks and misconduct are not new, the sheer scale and seniority of this case has triggered wider concerns about corruption, moral decay, and unchecked power within Thailand's Buddhist clergy. The Sangha Supreme Council, the governing body of Thai Buddhism, has now announced it will form a special committee to review disciplinary codes for monks. Meanwhile, the Thai government is considering tougher laws that could impose jail time and fines on monks who violate monastic codes. In a sign of royal disapproval, King Vajiralongkorn revoked royal titles conferred to 81 monks, citing their misconduct as damaging to the faith and mental well-being of the public. (With inputs from BBC, The Guardian, AP)
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Woman arrested after ‘filming herself having sex with Buddhist monks and blackmailing them for £9m' with cleric missing
The scandal was exposed when a widely respected monk vanished from his Buddhist temple in Bangkok MONKY BUSINESS Woman arrested after 'filming herself having sex with Buddhist monks and blackmailing them for £9m' with cleric missing A WOMAN has been arrested for allegedly filming herself having sex with Buddhist monks in a scandal that has rocked Thailand. Wilawan Emsawat, 35, is said to have slept with several monks and has been accused of extorting a whopping nine million pounds in a blackmail plot. 6 Wilawan Emsawat, 35, is said to have slept with several monks and has been accused of extortion Credit: Facebook 6 Emsawat being led away by police Credit: ViralPress 6 A sweep of the woman's house found thousands of compromising footage of the missing monk Credit: ViralPress 6 A Buddhist monk walks along the street barefoot (file picture) Credit: Shutterstock Editorial The scandal was exposed when a Phra Thep Wachirapamok, a widely respected monk from his Buddhist temple in central Bangkok, abruptly renounced his monkhood and vanished. But it soon emerged that Wachirapamok, better known as Arch, was allegedly in an illicit relationship with Emsawat, who reportedly claimed to be pregnant. She is said to have demanded £179,000 in exchange for her silence. But when the monk allegedly refused to pay the exorbitant sum, she exposed their affair to fellow monks in the temple - forcing Wachirapamok to reportedly flee the country in disgrace. read more world news BROTHERS IN ARMS Buddhist monk guns down cleric in toilet after being annoyed by loud phone A sweep of the woman's house found five mobile phones with tens of thousands of files reportedly containing compromising footage of the missing monk. Some alleged pictures show Wirawan in explicit acts with other top-ranking monks and politicians. Police Colonel Anek Taosuparp, deputy commander of the Crime Suppression Division, said Wirawan's modus operandi was to gain the monks' trust before getting in a sexual relationship with them. In an interview with Thai media aired on Wednesday, Wirawan admitted to having relationships with two monks and a religious professor, The Guardian reports. She also admitted to receiving extravagant gifts, including a Mercedes-Benz SLK200 and 'millions' of baht in the form of bank transfers and a personal bank card. Police Major General Charoonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Cybercrime Investigation Bureau, said more than 12 Buddhist temples were under scrutiny following the scandal. Leaked sex tape shows Buddhist monk filmed taking part in drug-fuelled gay orgy at a temple in Taiwan At least nine monks have so far voluntarily disrobed - and the number is expected to increase. The Sangha Supreme Council, the highest governing Buddhist body in Thailand, said monastic regulations were being reviewed to create more modern sanctions. Acting secretary Chatchapol Chaiyaporn said: "A new special committee will be formed to safeguard Buddhism, review the Sangha Act and other related laws, and enhance public communication. "The proposal will be submitted to the Supreme Patriarch for approval." He added that loopholes in monastic law need to be addressed in order to restore public trust. Ittiporn Chan-iam, director of the National Office of Buddhism, said the office was proposing jail terms of up to seven years and a fine of up to 140,000 baht (£3,200) for monks expelled from the order over serious monastic violations. The same penalties would apply to common people who knowingly engage in sexual acts with Buddhist monks. Buddhist monks take a vow of celibacy to detach themselves from worldly desires, which are seen as obstacles to spiritual enlightenment. However, the Thai clergy have faced numerous sex scandals over the years, eroding public trust in the religious establishment. 6 She is said to have demanded £179,000 in exchange for her silence Credit: ViralPress
