Latest news with #WilawanEmsawat
India.com
20 hours 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.
Indian Express
a day 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)
News18
a day 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
a day 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.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
'$11.9m extortion ring': Who is Wilawan Emsawat? The woman at the centre of Thailand's monk scandal
A dramatic scandal involving Thailand's senior Buddhist clergy has gripped the nation after the disappearance of a well-known monk led to a web of blackmail, sex, and temple money trails. At the centre of it all is Wilawan Emsawat, a woman now accused of seducing and extorting powerful monks, and exposing a deeper rot in Thailand's religious institutions. The controversy erupted after Phra Thep Wachirapamok, a respected monk from a central Bangkok temple, vanished without a trace. Investigators soon found the trail led to Wilawan, whose home was reportedly filled with phones containing tens of thousands of compromising images and videos involving monks. Her financial records showed deposits linked to temple accounts, drawing in at least nine senior clergy who have since been disrobed or dismissed. Police say Wilawan used romantic relationships with monks to pressure them into paying large sums to maintain silence, money often transferred directly from temple funds. She allegedly claimed to be pregnant in one case and demanded 7.2 million baht from a monk who later fled the monkhood, the Guardian reported. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like See the original Harry Potter Cast Then and Now Watch More Undo Wilawan, now in her mid-30s, was arrested in Nonthaburi province on charges of extortion, money laundering, and receiving stolen property. She has not commented since her arrest, and it remains unclear whether she has legal representation. However, before her arrest, she admitted to relationships with at least two monks and a religious academic. She also expressed guilt, saying she had 'fallen in love.' Police say 385 million baht (around $11.9 million) passed through Wilawan's accounts in three years, much of which was spent on online gambling, as per the report. Thailand's acting Prime Minister has now ordered a review of laws governing monk behaviour and temple finances, amid growing calls for reform. The Central Investigation Bureau has opened a public tip line on social media for reporting misbehaving monks. Who is Wilawan Emsawat? Nicknamed 'Sika Golf' and believed to be in her mid-30s Arrested in Nonthaburi province on charges of extortion and money laundering Allegedly blackmailed multiple senior monks after initiating sexual relationships Claimed to be pregnant to extract over 7 million baht from one monk Received around 385 million baht over three years, mostly from temple-linked accounts Told media she had fallen in love with some of the monks and gave money to one Reportedly spent much of the funds on online gambling Phones seized from her home contained tens of thousands of compromising images and videos Police say she is connected to multiple temples across Thailand Has become a lightning rod in a scandal that has triggered broader questions about the abuse of wealth and status in Thai Buddhism.
