Thailand's Buddhist community has been rocked by a sensational sex and extortion scandal after a woman, identified as Wilawan Emsawat, was arrested for blackmailing monks with intimate videos. The case has sent shockwaves across the country due to the involvement of high-ranking monks and the violation of their celibacy vows.
Who is Wilawan Emsawat?
Wilawan Emsawat, also known by her nickname “Ms. Golf,” is a woman in her 30s who lived in a luxury residence in Nonthaburi, just north of Bangkok. She was taken into custody on Tuesday by the Royal Thai Police’s Central Investigation Bureau. Wilawan now faces charges of extortion, money laundering, and possession of stolen property.
According to investigators, she engaged in sexual relationships with at least nine monks over a period of three years. Police say she then blackmailed them with explicit photos and videos found on her phone, accumulating a staggering 385 million baht (approximately ₹102 crore).
Monks disrobed, videos recovered
Following the investigation, nine monks, many of them abbots from prominent temples, have been defrocked. Some have gone into hiding, and others admitted to having ongoing relationships with Wilawan. One monk claimed she even gave him a car, believing they were in a committed relationship, until he discovered she was involved with other monks and was then blackmailed for money.
Authorities seized Wilawan’s phones and uncovered over 80,000 images and videos that were reportedly used to blackmail various Buddhist leaders. A portion of the money extracted through these schemes was allegedly used for illegal online gambling.
A child, A missing monk, and mounting pressure
The case became public in June when the abbot of the well-known Wat Tri Thotsathep monastery disappeared. It was later revealed that he had left the monkhood to escape blackmail threats from Wilawan. She has since claimed that the monk fathered her child, adding another controversial layer to the unfolding story.
Public outrage and debates over blame
This scandal has ignited fierce debate across Thailand. While the focus initially landed on Wilawan’s criminal actions, many are questioning the role of the monks and the institutional response. A Senate committee has even proposed laws to prosecute women who have sexual relations with monks, a move that has sparked backlash from gender rights activists.
Critics argue that shifting the blame onto women ignores the broader moral failures within the monkhood. Bangkok Post columnist Sanitsuda Ekachai highlighted that this scandal reflects a deeper rot: “It’s not an isolated case, it’s routine behind temple walls,” she wrote. She also pointed out that women have long been vilified in Buddhist teachings as threats to monks’ purity.
Thailand, where over 90% of the population identifies as Buddhist, has around 200,000 monks and 85,000 novices. This scandal has renewed calls for reforms in the Sangha, the Buddhist monastic order, and greater accountability for spiritual leaders.
