Thailand: Woman extorted Buddhist monks of USD11.9 million after sex, arrested

Police said Wilawan “Golf” Emsawat is believed to have sexual relationship with at least nine monks.

Investigators who searched her house found more than 80,000 photos and videos used to blackmail the monks, the police spokesman told BBC.

The incident drew global attention since it shook the base of the country's much-respected Buddhist institution.

The woman was arrested on Tuesday at her house in a luxury housing estate in Nonthaburi.

Police have levelled charges, including extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen goods, against her.

She was arrested after police found evidence of a 380,000-baht sum transferred to her by a senior monk from a bank account of his temple.

The money was transferred on Feb 16, 2024 by Phra Theppatcharaporn, who on Monday left the monkhood and admitted to having given money to the woman, reported Bangkok Post.

Wilawan was aware that the money belonged to the temple but she still ordered the monk to make the transfer, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau told Bangkok Post.

Despite denying being intimate with the arrested woman, Wilawan admitted transferring 12.8 million baht from his personal bank account to the woman.

Police have also decided to make background checks of about 300,000 Buddhist monks nationwide in the wake of the scandal.

Police have asked the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) for the ID card numbers of all Buddhist monks in Thailand so they could make background checks for miscreants and felons, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Parnkaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, (CIB) was quoted as saying by Bangkok Post.

Ninety percent of Thailand's population identifies itself as Buddhists, and the monks are highly respected across the nation.