Latest news with #PhraThepWachirapamok
The Guardian
6 days ago
- The Guardian
Monks behaving badly: the sex scandal rocking Thailand's Buddhist clergy
The disappearance of a respected monk from his Buddhist temple in central Bangkok has revealed a sex scandal that has rocked Thailand, with allegations of blackmail, lavish gifts and a string of dismissals raising questions about the money and power enjoyed by the country's orange-robed clergy. Investigations into the whereabouts of senior monk Phra Thep Wachirapamok unexpectedly led police to a woman who the police suspect conducted intimate relationships with several senior monks, and then blackmailed them to keep the liaisons quiet. When police searched her home this month they found mobile phones that reportedly contained tens of thousands of compromising photos and videos of the missing monk, and several other senior Buddhist figures. Police also tracked her finances, which they said showed links to temples. 'We checked her financial trail and found that it involves many temples,' Jaroonkiat Pankaew, from the Thai police's central investigation bureau told a press briefing on Tuesday. 'After we seized her mobile, we checked and found that there are several monks involved, and several [video] clips and Line chats,' he added, referring to the popular messaging Thep Wachirapamok has not been seen since he left the temple and no charges have been laid over his disappearance. But the woman, Wilawan Emsawat, was arrested on Tuesday, and has been charged with extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen goods. Wilawan has not commented fully on the charges, and it is not clear if she has a legal representative. But in an interview with Thai media aired on Wednesday, she admitted to having relationships with two monks and a religious professor. Wilawan also said she received extravagant gifts, including a Mercedes-Benz SLK200 and 'millions' of baht, in the form of bank transfers and a personal bank card. She expressed guilt over the relationships, saying she had fallen in love. Police said that about 385 million baht ($11.9m) had been deposited into Wilawan's bank accounts in the past three years. In a separate interview, she said she had given money to another monk she was dating. Stories of misbehaving monks are not uncommon in Thailand, but the scale of this case has shocked many, sparking questions about how monks – who are expected uphold the celibate traditions of Theravada Buddhism and refrain from earthly desires – seemingly strayed so far from their beliefs. The salacious scandal, which has dominated the news in the south-east Asian nation, has led to the defrocking and dismissal of at least nine abbots and senior monks. One monk implicated faces two charges: embezzlement of temple funds and official misconduct, while investigations into others are ongoing. The monk admitted to loaning money from the temple funds, but said it was to help Wilawan with a business endeavour. 'This is the first time I have seen a scandal like this,' said Paiwan Wannabud, who spent almost 20 years in the monkhood before leaving in 2021, and is now an LGBT influencer. While much of the coverage has focused on the woman at the centre of the scandal, Paiwan says the case raises important questions about the 'money, power and titles' that enable such behaviour – a sentiment reflected in recent op-eds. 'When the clergy's moral decay is in full view, it's the woman who takes the fall while the monks are cast as victims,' wrote one commentator, Sanitsuda Ekachai, in the Bangkok Post, deriding what she said was a feudal-like system in which monks 'live in privilege, surrounded by wealth and deference'. Another op-ed published by Thai broadcaster PBS thanked Wilawan for her role in exposing the conduct, saying: 'Without her, these deep-rooted malpractices might never have come to light'. Monks in Thailand receive monthly food allowances of between 2,500-34,200 baht (£57-785), depending on their rank, but temples and monks also receive donations. The latter can prove especially lucrative for monks of higher stature, who might be given tens of thousands of baht, or even more, by wealthy individuals. In a separate case earlier this month, the abbot of a famous temple in Bangkok raised eyebrows when he reported the theft of 10 million baht (£229,000) in cash and gold bars from his room. Acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, ordered authorities last week to consider tightening existing laws related to monks and temples, especially in relation to temple finances. Temples are required to disclose their earnings. The National Office of Buddhism, which said monks will be investigated no matter how senior they are, has also suggested reviving a draft law that carries criminal penalties for those who damage the reputation of Buddhism, including through sexual misconduct. In response to the crisis, Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn issued a royal command on Tuesday, cancelling earlier announcements that had granted ecclesiastical titles to dozens of senior monks. Meanwhile Thai Police have promised to continue investigations 'across the country' with the central investigation bureau setting up a Facebook page for people to report monks behaving badly. Paiwan said that faith in Buddhism would remain, but that trust in monks may deteriorate. 'They were lost to their passion and their lust,' she said.
Metro
7 days ago
- Metro
Woman 'filmed herself having sex with monks and blackmailed them for £9,000,000'
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A Buddhist sex scandal has erupted in Thailand after a woman filmed herself sleeping with monks before blackmailing them for cash. Wilawan Emsawat, 35, was arrested for allegedly seducing and then extorting senior Buddhist clergy of up to £9 million. At least nine monks have been disrobed for breaking their vows of celibacy after sex videos between Wilawan and the religious men were uncovered. The scandal unfolded after the head of a famous Buddhist temple in Bangkok suddenly renounced his monkhood and disappeared. It soon transpired that the religious leader, Phra Thep Wachirapamok, 53, had allegedly been sleeping with Wilawan. She had told the monk she was pregnant and threatened to reveal their relationship if he did not pay her 7.2m baht (£165,000) in child support. When he refused to cough up, she allegedly exposed their liaison to fellow monks, and he fled. Investigators discovered five phones containing tens of thousands of videos and photos of her having sex with Phra Thep Wachirapamok and other monks. Some were even wearing their religious robes while in the act, the police's Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) said. Officers also found chats which pointed to sexual acts with religious men, which they said could be used for blackmail. The alleged seductress was arrested in Bangkok on Tuesday on suspicion of crimes including extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen goods. It was revealed that about 385 million baht (£9 million) had been deposited into her bank account in the last three years, police added. 'We checked her financial trail and found that it involves many temples,' the Thai police's Jaroonkiat Pankaew said on Tuesday. He added: 'This woman is dangerous and we needed to arrest her as soon as possible' Investigators believe the scandal could be about far more than sex and may involve corruption on a large scale. At least nine abbots, who are heads of monasteries, and senior monks had been implicated in the scandal and thrown out of the monkhood. A number have already confessed to long-standing affairs with her, one even admitting that Wilawan gave him a car during their fling. The country's Central Investigation Bureau have even set up a Facebook page for people to report on monks breaking the rules. Thai monks mostly belong to the Theravada sect, which requires them to be celibate and refrain from touching a woman. Phra Thep Wachirapamok has not yet been tracked down after his disappearance. Although Wilawan has not commented since her arrest, she spoke to local media before Tuesday and acknowledged one relationship and said she had given him money. More Trending The scandal has prompted huge acrimony in the predominantly Buddhist country. Thailand's acting PM Phumtham Wechayachai has ordered for laws to be amended to improve the transparency of temple finances. Respected columnist Ekachai wrote: 'Monks must ask themselves: Why did they enter monkhood? For spiritual training, or to climb the social ladder and gain wealth and power through the saffron robe? 'This is structural rot rooted in a clergy strong on authoritarian control but weak on monastic discipline. It's the bitter fruit of a system that has drifted far from the Buddha's path.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Model's fury at phone snatchers after thieves take her mobile twice in three months MORE: Ex-UFC fighter in fresh bid for jail pardon after role in £53,000,000 Securitas heist MORE: Dad-of-six told police he was being abused weeks before ex 'stabbed him in heart'
The Sun
7 days ago
- The Sun
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 6 6 6 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. 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 6
The Guardian
17-07-2025
- The Guardian
Monks behaving badly: the sex scandal rocking Thailand's Buddhist clergy
The disappearance of a respected monk from his Buddhist temple in central Bangkok has revealed a sex scandal that has rocked Thailand, with allegations of blackmail, lavish gifts and a string of dismissals raising questions about the money and power enjoyed by the country's orange-robed clergy. Investigations into the whereabouts of senior monk Phra Thep Wachirapamok unexpectedly led police to a woman who the police suspect conducted intimate relationships with several senior monks, and then blackmailed them to keep the liaisons quiet. When police searched her home this month they found mobile phones that reportedly contained tens of thousands of compromising photos and videos of the missing monk, and several other senior Buddhist figures. Police also tracked her finances, which they said showed links to temples. 'We checked her financial trail and found that it involves many temples,' Jaroonkiat Pankaew, from the Thai police's central investigation bureau told a press briefing on Tuesday. 'After we seized her mobile, we checked and found that there are several monks involved, and several [video] clips and Line chats,' he added, referring to the popular messaging Thep Wachirapamok has not been seen since he left the temple and no charges have been laid over his disappearance. But the woman, Wilawan Emsawat, was arrested on Tuesday, and has been charged with extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen goods. Wilawan has not commented fully on the charges, and it is not clear if she has a legal representative. But in an interview with Thai media aired on Wednesday, she admitted to having relationships with two monks and a religious professor. Wilawan also said she received extravagant gifts, including a Mercedes-Benz SLK200 and 'millions' of baht, in the form of bank transfers and a personal bank card. She expressed guilt over the relationships, saying she had fallen in love. Police said that about 385 million baht ($11.9m) had been deposited into Wilawan's bank accounts in the past three years. In a separate interview, she said she had given money to another monk she was dating. Stories of misbehaving monks are not uncommon in Thailand, but the scale of this case has shocked many, sparking questions about how monks – who are expected uphold the celibate traditions of Theravada Buddhism and refrain from earthly desires – seemingly strayed so far from their beliefs. The salacious scandal, which has dominated the news in the south-east Asian nation, has led to the defrocking and dismissal of at least nine abbots and senior monks. One monk implicated faces two charges: embezzlement of temple funds and official misconduct, while investigations into others are ongoing. The monk admitted to loaning money from the temple funds, but said it was to help Wilawan with a business endeavour. 'This is the first time I have seen a scandal like this,' said Paiwan Wannabud, who spent almost 20 years in the monkhood before leaving in 2021, and is now an LGBT influencer. While much of the coverage has focused on the woman at the centre of the scandal, Paiwan says the case raises important questions about the 'money, power and titles' that enable such behaviour – a sentiment reflected in recent op-eds. 'When the clergy's moral decay is in full view, it's the woman who takes the fall while the monks are cast as victims,' wrote one commentator, Sanitsuda Ekachai, in the Bangkok Post, deriding what she said was a feudal-like system in which monks 'live in privilege, surrounded by wealth and deference'. Another op-ed published by Thai broadcaster PBS thanked Wilawan for her role in exposing the conduct, saying: 'Without her, these deep-rooted malpractices might never have come to light'. Monks in Thailand receive monthly food allowances of between 2,500-34,200 baht (£57-785), depending on their rank, but temples and monks also receive donations. The latter can prove especially lucrative for monks of higher stature, who might be given tens of thousands of baht, or even more, by wealthy individuals. In a separate case earlier this month, the abbot of a famous temple in Bangkok raised eyebrows when he reported the theft of 10 million baht (£229,000) in cash and gold bars from his room. Acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, ordered authorities last week to consider tightening existing laws related to monks and temples, especially in relation to temple finances. Temples are required to disclose their earnings. The National Office of Buddhism, which said monks will be investigated no matter how senior they are, has also suggested reviving a draft law that carries criminal penalties for those who damage the reputation of Buddhism, including through sexual misconduct. In response to the crisis, Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn issued a royal command on Tuesday, cancelling earlier announcements that had granted ecclesiastical titles to dozens of senior monks. Meanwhile Thai Police have promised to continue investigations 'across the country' with the central investigation bureau setting up a Facebook page for people to report monks behaving badly. Paiwan said that faith in Buddhism would remain, but that trust in monks may deteriorate. 'They were lost to their passion and their lust,' she said.
The Star
10-07-2025
- The Star
Six more senior Buddhist monks in Thailand suspected of having relationships with ‘femme fatale' called, Golf
BANGKOK: The so-called femme fatale targeting senior Buddhist monks may have claimed six more victims as investigations into the Phitsanulok monastic chief and five additional monks are underway. The monks are suspected of having intimate relationships with a woman known as Golf, who allegedly lured them into sexual encounters and blackmailed them afterward. Investigation of senior monks involved with Golf A source from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) revealed that five more senior monks, some as high-ranking as Phra Thep (angelic level), are suspected of having relationships with Golf and transferring money to her. These monks are now under investigation. Meanwhile, the Phitsanulok provincial administration held an urgent meeting to verify rumours that the Phitsanulok monastic chief had gone into hiding due to ties with Golf. Phra Phayom Kalayano, the abbot of Wat Suan Kaew in Nonthaburi, referred to Golf as a 'femme fatale' targeting senior monks, particularly those who have graduated from the highest level of monastic studies, Parien 9. Blackmail and exploitation allegations Phra Phayom explained that Golf allegedly targeted very senior monks by enticing them into sex, then using photos and videos to blackmail them. Investigators uncovered over 80,000 photos of naked senior monks on Golf's mobile phone. Police were reportedly shocked at the high success rate of her luring tactics, considering her appearance was reportedly different from her social media profile. - Photo: The Nation/ANN The Case of Phra Thep Wachirapamok The femme fatale gained significant attention after Phra Thep Wachirapamok, better known as Chaokhun Arj, the abbot of the respected Wat Tri Thotsathep Worawihan in Bangkok, mysteriously left monkhood in late June and allegedly fled to Laos. Golf, initially identified as Miss K, reportedly developed a secret romantic relationship with the abbot. She later claimed to be pregnant and demanded 7.68 million baht in child support, which caused the monk to flee. The CIB investigation later found that at least 10 senior monks had been involved with Golf, and many left monkhood after Arj's scandal made headlines. - Photo: The Nation/ANN More victims and investigations On Thursday (July 10), Phitsanulok governor Thawee Sermphakdeekul confirmed that it was still unclear whether Phra Rat Ratanasutee, the deputy abbot of Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat in Phitsanulok, had left monkhood due to a relationship with Golf. The provincial Buddhism office is still investigating the matter. A CIB source indicated that investigators had found transaction records linking 10 to 20 senior monks to Golf, with amounts ranging from small sums to seven-digit figures. The monks involved are from various temples across Thailand, including locations in Phichit, Phetchabun, Khon Kaen, and Samut Sakhon. Fear of exposure and further investigations Investigators believe some monks left monkhood voluntarily, fearing exposure even though Golf might not have incriminating photos or videos of them. The monks are being classified into two groups: Group 1: Involved with video clips, photos, and transaction records Group 2: Involved with transaction records, but no photos or video clips The investigation team is continuing to summon ex-senior monks for questioning regarding their relationships with Golf. Other developments The investigation cleared the name of the abbot of Wat Samma Chanywas in Bangkok after it was found that he did not have sexual relations with Golf but gave her money out of mercy after she begged for help. Another senior monk from Wat Chujit Thammaram in Ayutthaya was found to have engaged in inappropriate conversations with her, but there was no evidence of a sexual encounter. The CIB team also cleared Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat (Yaem Intrangkrungkao), the former abbot of Wat Rai Khing in Nakhon Pathom, stating that he had no ties to Golf despite his involvement in a separate sexual scandal. Meanwhile, an assistant abbot of Wat Sothorn Wararam Worawiharn in Chachoengsao has gone into hiding following the scandal. - The Nation/ANN
