Sex scandal involving monks: Thailand attempts to restore faith

The monastic order is under fire in Thailand after police uncovered a scandal involving at least 13 monks.

See: Sex scandal in Thailand: a woman trapped influential monks

Unlike other cases, many were former abbots or deputy abbots of renowned temples.

These monks are accused of having had sexual relations with Wilawan Emsawat, also known as 'Sika Golf', allegedly for her financial gain.

See: Thailand: Arrest of Woman Who Seduced and Blackmailed Monks

The authorities have discovered that Ms. Wilawan received 385 million baht over the past three years, and she is currently in detention.

These revelations have revived long-standing calls for a thorough reform of monastic governance, financial management, and the application of disciplinary measures.

See: Crisis of Buddhism in Thailand: reform after sex scandals

Religious scholars are speaking out to demand changes to restore trust and bring the institution back in line with Buddhist principles.

Rewrite monastic rules

Phra Thep Wachiratheeraporn, abbot of Wat Phra Phutthachai in Saraburi (left) receives lay clothes after being defrocked for having an affair with a woman known as Sika Golf (right).

Professor Uthit Siriwan, Vice-Rector in charge of international research at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, the country's oldest Buddhist university, believes that this crisis marks a turning point.

A former monk deeply attached to monastic life, he believes that the threats, particularly violations of celibacy and financial ethics, require a systemic response.

He proposes a thorough doctrinal and disciplinary revision, similar to that undertaken during the reign of King Rama I, when Buddhist scriptures were examined and monastic conduct scrutinized.

“This process took eight months back then, but with current technology, it could be done in three months,” he said.

A working group mandated by the supreme patriarch is currently revising disciplinary procedures, with the aim of speeding up investigations and imposing effective deterrents.

Verdicts for serious offenses should be rendered within 10 days, rather than several years, and digital evidence such as videos will now be admissible.

Among the key reforms is the stricter application of rule Sanghadisesa 13, a serious offense against the monastic code (Vinaya) that traditionally covers seductive or sexually suggestive behavior in person.

The revised approach aims to extend its application to online interactions, so that inappropriate conversations, images or clips showing a monk courting or flirting with a woman would be grounds for immediate defrocking.

See: When a perverse Thai monk meets a prostitute with a high moral sense

“This standard should apply to all genders and identities, including LGBTQ+ people,” he said.

See: What is the position of Buddhism on LGBT+ in Thailand?

On the financial side, Professor Uthit said that from October 1, new regulations will limit temple cash reserves to 100,000 baht (2,628 euros).

Accounting standards are being developed to be applied uniformly, from small rural temples to large international institutions.

Monitoring of monks

A Buddhist monk holds a bowl for morning alms in Bangkok in January 2025. Photo: AP/Sakchai Lalit

Professor Uthit also highlighted the role of the public in safeguarding the integrity of the monastic institution.

« Most laypeople do not understand the Vinaya », he said, referring to the 227 precepts that govern the conduct of monks.

“Just as citizens cannot invoke their ignorance of civil law, Buddhists should be informed about what monks can and cannot do.”

He proposed the creation of an independent body, with its own budget and personnel, to oversee the conduct of monks.

Such a “monastic oversight body” would complement the work of the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) and the Supreme Sangha Council, similar to anti-corruption agencies within the government.

Asked about criminal penalties, he replied that monks who violate major precepts should be considered to have lost their monastic status.

He cited a proposal from the former National Reform Council aimed at imposing prison sentences and fines on monks who commit such offenses.

Although this proposal was rejected at the time, Professor Uthit argued that existing laws already allow for prosecution, but are rarely enforced.

He added that while some of the 13 monks linked to the Sika Golf scandal may have been deceived or coerced, many had knowingly violated their vows.

Alternative penalties, such as extended meditation retreats, could be appropriate in the less serious cases, but the others should be subject to criminal prosecution under the penal code for impersonating a monk.

Nevertheless, he said that each case should be judged fairly.

A former abbot of a Nakhon Sawan temple, who held the position of provincial monastic chief, was seen wearing a wig and allegedly had relations with at least three women.

Professor Uthit has nonetheless called for a regular procedure.

"If it can be proven that his behavior was intentional, a severe penalty is appropriate.

But minor infractions could justify community service rather than imprisonment, which wastes both talent and public funds."

Change from within

Assistant Professor Channarong Boonnoon, an expert in Buddhism and Buddhist philosophy at Silpakorn University, presented a more critical view of the internal culture of the monastic system.

Although his faith was not affected, he expressed concern about how scandals involving high-ranking monks have eroded the credibility of the institution.

"The system isolates monks from public scrutiny.

Abbots hold most of the power and often protect their own.

Even within monastic communities, few people know how much money is collected or where it goes.

Most focus only on whether they should make a donation," he said.

He believes that giving local communities the means to give their opinion and exercise control could alleviate some problems without the need to create new legal structures.

However, he added that the temples currently only report to the NOB, a heavily bureaucratized institution.

This distance means that many consider that these issues do not concern them in their daily lives.

He is skeptical about the effectiveness of simply adopting new laws.

“The laws are imperfect and new rules will not be able to repair what is fundamentally broken.

The spirit of monastic life has lost something that legal reform alone cannot restore. ”

According to him, regulations can address external issues such as donations or allocations of abbots, but without internal transformation through the practice of Dhamma, gaps will remain.

As for whether criminal penalties should apply to laypeople involved in reprehensible acts, Associate Professor Channarong said:

"Civil law may be applicable in cases of fraud, coercion or blackmail, but all consensual sexual acts between a monk and a layperson do not constitute a crime.

These cases would not escalate if the monks simply acknowledged their faults and left the robe.

If a monk knowingly violates his vows but continues to wear the robe, the responsibility lies with him, not with the laywoman.

Civil law must be applied with discernment, not automatically.

Despite the turmoil, he concluded on a note of hope.

He observed that while some Buddhists are disillusioned, many continue to distinguish between the Dhamma and the reprehensible conduct of some monks.

"Faith cannot be imposed," he said.

"One cannot force those who do not have faith, but for others, this can be an opportunity to demand a purer and more disciplined Sangha."

This crisis could be an opportunity for the Sangha to reform or sink further into popular distrust.

See also:

The fortune of a former Buddhist monk turned transvestite intrigues Thais

Thailand: Buddhist monks duped in a pyramid scheme

Thailand: 3 monks punished after their spree in Pattaya's red-light district

A drug-addicted and armed monk arrested after sowing terror in Thailand

Thailand: a pedophile monk rapes children with impunity

Thai monks caught stealing, drunk and an abbot caught with porn

A crazy Thai Buddhist monk allegedly tortured and killed 80 cats

A famous Thai Buddhist monk steals 4.86 million euros from his temple

Monk by day, party animal by night, a monk accused of having a double life in Thailand

A Buddhist monk lacking sex cut off his penis in Thailand

All monks of a temple in Thailand tested positive for meth

A Buddhist monk was selling firearms online in Thailand

Source : Bangkok Post