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France 24
5 days ago
- France 24
Misbehaving monks: Sex scandal shakes Thai Buddhist faithful
Thai police this week arrested a woman accused of bedding at least 11 monks in violation of their vows of celibacy, before blackmailing them with thousands of secretly taken photos of their trysts. The monks are said to have paid nearly $12 million, funnelled out of their monasteries funded by donations from laypeople hoping to increase their merit and prospects for reincarnation. The scandal provoked outrage over hypocrisy in the monkhood, concern their status shields them from scrutiny, and soul-searching across society about the role of religion. "I'm not involved in the religion like I used to be," 33-year-old motorbike taxi driver Mongkol Sudathip told AFP. "I don't have full respect for it anymore." King Maha Vajiralongkorn has cancelled invitations to more than 80 monks who had been due to attend his upcoming 73rd birthday celebrations, citing "inappropriate behaviour that caused mental distress among the Thai people". 'Splurging attitude' Theravada Buddhism has been the spiritual backbone of Thai identity for more than two millennia, and still shapes national laws banning alcohol on religious holidays and protecting sacred objects. Thai men are traditionally expected to ordain as monks at least once in their lives for a period lasting as short as a few weeks or as long as decades. The clergy are bound by 227 strict rules, including a ban on masturbation, touching women and even handling objects directly from them. Monks traditionally survive on alms, food offerings and a modest $170 monthly stipend, but some pocket fees for lectures, blessings and ceremonies -- blurring the line between faith and fortune. In a TV interview, the woman at the heart of the scandal said she had developed a "splurging attitude" as her monk lovers lavished her with shopping trips worth up to $90,000 a day. Motorcycle taxi driver Mongkol said he now prefers to donate to hospitals or schools for underprivileged children. "It feels more meaningful than giving money to temples," he told AFP. This month's scandal is not the first to rock the monkhood. In 2017, police raided Wat Dhammakaya temple north of Bangkok, arresting its former abbot over allegations of laundering $33 million in public donations. This May, police held another monk in the capital over allegations of embezzling nearly $10 million from a temple for an online gambling network. Buddhism scholar Danai Preechapermprasit said repeated scandals -- especially among senior monks -- have "shaken people to the core". "People question whether donations are used for spiritual significance or personal desire," he told AFP. "I think Thailand has reached a point where it's difficult for monks to even walk down the street." A powerful lawmaker has pledged tighter regulations within three months -- including mandatory donation disclosures and laws treating monk misconduct as a criminal offence. "This case does not represent Buddhism as a whole," said national police chief Kitrat Panphet on Thursday, pledging a new task force to probe misbehaving monks. "It's about a few individuals doing wrong," he said. 'Never lose faith' In Buddhist tradition monks are viewed as the Buddha's spiritual heirs, entrusted with preserving and passing on his teachings. But at Wat Bowonniwet in Bangkok -- one of Thailand's most revered temples -- only 26 monks were ordained this year, a steep drop from nearly 100 before the Covid-19 pandemic. A monk there, speaking to AFP anonymously, blamed societal changes after the pandemic, which forced people into isolation -- saying nowadays "people prefer to live outside the temple life". But independent Buddhism expert Jaturong Jongarsa said temples are increasingly being treated as "a garbage dump" -- where families send drug addicts or LGBTQ youth to be "corrected". "Temples are no longer seen as the sacred spaces they once were," he told AFP. "People send their problems to the temple and hope they'll go away." Still, not all Thais have lost faith. Camphun Parimiphut, a 52-year-old security guard from Maha Sarakham in Thailand's northeast, said: "Buddhism is about the teachings, not the individuals who fail it". Because of corruption scandals he now avoids giving money to monks -- preferring to donate only food. But his devotion remains steadfast. "You can lose faith in monks," he said. "But never lose trust in Buddhist teachings. They still teach us how to live a good life." © 2025 AFP
Economic Times
5 days ago
- Economic Times
Who is Wilawan Emsawat? Thai woman at the heart of a shocking monk seduction and blackmail scandal
A scandal is shaking Thailand's religious core, forcing some high-ranking monks to resign due to some serious accusations. Wilawan Emsawat, a 35-year-old woman, is at the center of it or more Buddhist monks say that Thai woman Wilawan Emsawat seduced them and then blackmailed them, forcing them to leave their orders. Authorities say she stole millions by threatening to tell people about illegal relationships. Wilawan Emsawat was accused of luring several monks to violate their celibacy vows and then coercing them into paying hefty fees to conceal the intimacy, as per a report by The Telegraph. ALSO READ: End of six-figure coding jobs? Meet Devin: Goldman's new AI engineer that works like a human, but for no salary Ms. Wilawan seems to have reached out to monks on social media, and some have admitted to having relationships with her. According to police commissioner Jaroonkiat Pankaew, the investigation started last month after an abbot of a well-known Bangkok temple abruptly left the monastic to reports, Ms. Wilawan, also known as Golf, wooed the abbot before revealing her pregnancy and requesting 7.2 million baht (£165,000) in child her opulent residence outside of Bangkok, she was taken into custody on Tuesday on suspicion of extortion, money laundering, and receiving stolen Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the police found that Ms. Wilawan's five phones included pictures and videos of her violating the celibacy of multiple monks, some of whom were dressed in their religious robes. ALSO READ: Massive Walmart layoffs? USA's largest private employer set to axe hundreds of jobs in shock move The bureau stated that the information could be used for blackmail, along with chat logs showing sexual encounters with monks. The majority of Thai monks belong to the Theravada sect, which mandates that they abstain from all sexual contact with women and maintain said they had tracked down money sent to her by a senior monk from a temple bank account and that she had specifically targeted senior monks for financial a press conference in the Thai capital, Mr. Jaroonkiat declared, "This woman is dangerous and we needed to arrest her as soon as possible."According to police, Ms. Wilawan's bank accounts received approximately 385 million baht (£8.8 million) over the previous three years, but the majority of the money was spent on internet gambling to the Central Investigation Bureau, a Facebook page has been established for people to report misbehaving monks, and at least nine abbots and senior monks involved in the scandal have been expelled from the monastic express great upset over her arrest and demand a change in the rules governing monks and temples. The scandal that has engulfed Thailand and shaken its Buddhist to a government spokesman, acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai has directed officials to investigate changing laws pertaining to monks and temples, particularly those pertaining to the transparency of temple finances. Who is Wilawan Emsawat??She is a Thai woman accused of seducing and blackmailing monks for money. How many monks were involved? At least nine senior monks have been disrobed thus far.
ITV News
5 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
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.'
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Thai woman ‘seduced', extorted senior monks for millions, arrested
A Thai woman has been arrested for allegedly seducing several senior Buddhist monks and blackmailing them for money with their intimate material. The monks allegedly diverted money from temple accounts to meet Wilawan's financial demands.(AP) The accused, Wilawan Emsawat, who is believed to be in her mid-30s, was arrested at her home in Bangkok's Nonthaburi province. As a result of the scandal, 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. Also Read | Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended: Why Thailand ousted two prime ministers in a year Authorities say she targeted high-ranking monks, lured them into sexual relationships, and then demanded large payouts to keep their affairs secret, the AP news agency reported. The monks allegedly diverted money from temple accounts to meet Wilawan's financial demands. A scandal fueled by seduction, extortion The case came to light after the sudden and unexplained resignation of a prominent abbot in Bangkok, said Jaroonkiat Pankaew, a Central Investigation Bureau deputy commissioner. Investigators later uncovered that he had been coerced by Wilawan, who claimed she was pregnant and demanded a staggering 7.2 million baht (approx. $222,000) to remain silent, the news agency reported. Also Read | Thailand's trade proposal to the US includes zero tariffs on some imports, says finance minister Police believed "this woman is dangerous and we needed to arrest her as soon as possible", Jaroonkiat said. Police believe this wasn't an isolated incident. Evidence from Wilawan's mobile phones has 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. Trail of money found Over the past three years, Wilawan reportedly received around 385 million baht (roughly $11.9 million) in her bank accounts—much of it transferred by monks using temple funds. Also Read | Influencer Sharan Hegde's Thailand moment with Soundous Moufakir grabs attention online Despite the seriousness of the allegations, Wilawan has not made a statement since her arrest, and it was unclear if she has legal representation. Thai Buddhism under the scanner The possible violation of the celibacy rule for monks has rocked the country's religious institutions and raised serious questions about temple finances and monk conduct. Thai monks are largely members of the Theravada sect, which requires them to be celibate and refrain from even touching a woman. Scandals involving monks surface a few times a year in Thailand, but usually don't involve senior members of the clergy. The case also puts a spotlight on the large sums of money donated to temples controlled by abbots, which is in marked contrast to the abstemious lives they are supposed to lead under their religion's precepts.
