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India.com
a day ago
- India.com
Who Is Wilawan Emsawat? Thai Woman Who Trapped Monks With 80,000 Nudes, Social Media And Extorted Rs 100 Cr In Blackmail
Thailand is facing one of the worst and shocking sex scandals. Shocking because monks are involved. The accused is Wilawan Emsawat. The victims are monks and abbots among others. They were lured using social media. Then, their intimate videos were recorded. The same was used to blackmail them. Police have arrested the woman who was identified as Wilawan Emsawat. She lured Buddhist monks into sexual relationships to break their vow of celibacy and then used the videos/nudes to blackmail them and extort money. According to reports, at least nine abbots and senior monks involved in the scandal have been cast out of the monkhood. The Royal Thai Police Central Investigation Bureau said that they found messages and intimate videos involving several Buddhist leaders on her phones. They also discovered that she had used the blackmail money to spend heavily on illegal online gambling. Who Is Wilawan Emsawat? Wilawan Emsawat, also known as "Sika Golf," was arrested at her upscale residence in Nonthaburi, just outside Bangkok. The woman, in her mid-30s, is now facing charges including extortion, money laundering, and possession of stolen property. Police allege that Wilawan had sexual relationships with at least nine Buddhist monks. Several of them reportedly confessed to these relationships, which allegedly began after she contacted them on social media. One monk said he had been in a long-term affair with her and had even received a car as a gift—until he discovered she was involved with another monk, after which she began demanding money, said reports. Authorities believe Wilawan earned roughly 385 million baht (about Rs 102 crore) over three years through blackmail. Investigators say they found over 80,000 explicit photos and videos featuring her and various monks, all recorded at her home. These materials were allegedly used to extort money from her victims. According to media reports, the scandal came to light in June when the abbot of a Bangkok monastery abruptly left the monkhood. Police say he fled after being blackmailed by Wilawan, who later claimed he fathered her child. A Senate committee has now suggested changing laws to criminalize women who have sexual relationships with monks—a proposal that has sparked backlash from critics who argue that men should be equally accountable for their actions. Scandals within Thailand's Buddhist clergy, known as the Sangha, often involve either sex or money. But the involvement of such senior monks in this case has made it particularly explosive.
News18
2 days ago
- News18
Who Is Wilawan Emsawat? Woman Behind Thailand's $12 Million Monk Sex Extortion Scandal
Thai police say at least 11 monks were involved, all of whom have now been stripped of their robes A shocking scandal has shaken Thailand after a woman was arrested for allegedly seducing monks and blackmailing them with secretly taken photos and videos. Thai police say at least 11 monks were involved, all of whom have now been stripped of their robes. The woman is accused of demanding millions of dollars from the monks, money which reportedly came from temple donations made by followers. The case has not only damaged the reputation of the clergy but also raised serious concerns about how religious donations are handled in the country. In Thai society, monks are deeply respected and considered spiritual successors of the Buddha, tasked with upholding and spreading his teachings. That's why this scandal has caused such a deep sense of betrayal among the public. Who is Wilawan Emsawat? Wilawan Emsawat, thought to be in her mid-30s, was arrested at her home in Nonthaburi province, just north of Bangkok, earlier this week. The Royal Thai Police Central Investigation Bureau confirmed her arrest and said she faces charges including extortion, money laundering, and receiving stolen property. Pattern Of Temple Scandals This is not the first time Thailand's monkhood has faced public disgrace. In 2017, police raided the well-known Wat Dhammakaya temple and arrested its abbot for allegedly laundering $33 million in public donations. Just two months ago, another senior monk was arrested in Bangkok for embezzling nearly $10 million to fund an illegal online gambling operation. Danai Preechapermprasit, a scholar in Buddhism, said repeated scandals like these — especially involving high-ranking monks — have deeply shaken public faith. 'People question whether donations are used for spiritual significance or personal desire," he told news agency AFP. 'I think Thailand has reached a point where it's difficult for monks to even walk down the street." Push For Reform The scandal has prompted strong calls for reform. A leading Thai lawmaker has promised new rules within three months, including mandatory disclosure of temple donations and laws that would make monk misconduct a criminal offence. 'This case does not represent Buddhism as a whole," said national police chief Kitrat Panphet on Thursday. He announced the creation of a special task force to investigate other cases of wrongdoing in the monkhood. 'It's about a few individuals doing wrong," he added. In response to the public outrage, King Maha Vajiralongkorn has withdrawn invitations to more than 80 monks who were due to attend his 73rd birthday celebrations. The Royal Household stated this was due to 'inappropriate behaviour that caused mental distress among the Thai people". view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
2 days ago
- NDTV
80,000 Nudes And Rs 100 Crore Blackmail: All About Thai Woman Wilawan Emsawat
A major sex and extortion scandal has shaken Thailand after police arrested a woman on Tuesday for luring Buddhist monks into sexual relationships and then blackmailing them for money. The case has drawn huge public attention, as it involves monks breaking their vow of celibacy. 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. Who is Wilawan Emsawat? Wilawan Emsawat, a woman in her mid-30s, was arrested at her luxury home in Nonthaburi, just north of Bangkok. She's facing charges of extortion, money laundering, and receiving stolen goods. Police, who refer to her as "Ms Golf," said she had sexual relations with at least nine monks. After seizing her phones, investigators found messages and intimate videos involving other Buddhist leaders. They also discovered that she had used the blackmail money to spend heavily on illegal online gambling. According to The Times, some monks admitted to having relationships with Wilawan, who reportedly reached out to them on social media. One monk claimed he was in a long-term relationship with her and even received a car from her. But things fell apart when he found out she was seeing another monk-and then she started demanding money. 80,000 Nude Files And $11.9 Million Extortion Scandal (Rs 102 Crore) According to the BBC, investigators believe Wilawan Emsawat made about 385 million baht (Rs 102 crore) over the past three years. Police said they found over 80,000 photos and videos of her engaged in sexual acts with numerous Buddhist monks in her home, which were used to blackmail monks. Wilawan Emsawat claims she's given birth to a child. According to the Daily Star, Wilawan Emsawat claimed she had a child with one of the monks. Police said the case came to light in mid-June when an abbot in Bangkok suddenly left the monkhood after being blackmailed by a woman. The scandal broke when the abbot of Wat Tri Thotsathep monastery went missing. Police say he left to escape Emsawat's blackmail, and now she claims he is the father of her child. Disciplinary Action and Public Outrage Shake Buddhist Community According to The Times, nine monks, including several abbots of well-known temples, have been defrocked, and at least two have gone to ground. A committee in the senate has proposed amending the law to allow for the criminal prosecution of women who engage in sexual relations with monks. The idea has angered those who say that men should be held responsible for their own actions. "The scandal exposes a system of lies and hypocrisy among top monks. The sheer number suggests this isn't an isolated case. It's business as usual behind temple walls," Sanitsuda Ekachai, a columnist for the Bangkok Post, wrote. "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. And now, 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," Sanitsuda Ekachai writes. More than 90 per cent of Thais are Buddhists, and at any one time there are about 200,000 monks and 85,000 novices. Scandals involving the Sangha, or Buddhist monastic community, are not uncommon in Thailand and often involve sex, money or both. But the seniority of the monks involved with Wilawan has made the incident unusual.
ITV News
3 days ago
- ITV News
Woman who allegedly seduced and blackmailed Buddhist monks arrested in Thailand
A woman has been arrested in Thailand after she allegedly enticed a string of Buddhist monks into sexual relationships and then pressured them into making large payments to cover up their intimacy. Wilawan Emsawat, who is in her mid-30s, was arrested at her home in Nonthaburi, Thailand, on charges including extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen goods. Authorities claim Wilawan deliberately targeted senior monks for financial gain, noting they found several monks had transferred large amounts of money after Wilawan initiated romantic relationships with them. Thai monks are largely members of the Theravada sect, which requires them to be celibate and refrain from touching a woman. Wilawan's bank accounts received around 385 million baht (£8.9 million) in the past three years, but most of the funds were spent on online gambling websites, according to police. The investigation began last month after the head of a famous temple in Bangkok abruptly left the monkhood. The religious leader had allegedly been blackmailed by Wilawan over their romantic relationship. She told the monk that she was pregnant and asked him to pay 7.2 million baht (£165,000) in financial assistance, it was stated at a police press conference in Bangkok. 'This woman is dangerous and we needed to arrest her as soon as possible,' said Jaroonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner for the Central Investigation Bureau. Thai media reported that 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. 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. 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 heads of monasteries and senior monks involved in the scandal have been disrobed and cast out of the monkhood, the Royal Thai Police Central Investigation Bureau confirmed. The Central Investigation Bureau has set up a Facebook page for people to report monks who misbehave.
1News
3 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.'
