Thailand: arrest of the woman who seduced and blackmailed monks

On July 15, Thai police arrested a woman who allegedly seduced Buddhist monks to have sex with them.

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

She took photos and videos of their intimate relationship, and then asked them for large sums of money.

An earthquake in Buddhist institutions in Thailand

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).

This possible violation of the monks' celibacy rule has shaken Buddhist institutions and captured public attention in Thailand over the past few weeks.

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

At least nine abbots and high-ranking monks involved in the scandal were defrocked and expelled from the monastic community, said the Central Investigation Bureau of the Royal Thai Police (CIB).

Extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen goods

The police arrested Wilawan Emsawat (Sika Golf) at her home in Nonthaburi Province on July 15, 2025. Photo Khaosod/Thanee Thaweekeud

Wilawan Emsawat, nicknamed "Sika Golf", in her thirties, was arrested at her home in Nonthaburi Province, north of the capital Bangkok, for extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen property.

The police said they had traced the money that had been transferred to her by a high-ranking monk from a bank account belonging to his temple in northern Thailand.

Wilawan has made no statement since her arrest and it is not known if she is represented by a lawyer.

Addressing local media before her arrest, she admitted to having a relationship and giving money to the monk.

Sika Golf targeted high-ranking monks

Police are questioning an abbot at Wat Yai Chom Prasat temple, in Samut Sakhon province on Sunday, July 13, 2025. Photo: Thai Police

Scandals involving monks are common in Thailand (see links below), but they generally do not involve high-ranking members of the clergy.

This case also highlights the significant sums given to temples controlled by abbots, which starkly contrasts with the austere life they are supposed to lead according to the precepts of their religion.

Wilawan deliberately targeted high-ranking monks to enrich herself, the police said, specifying that they had discovered that several monks had transferred large sums of money after Wilawan had started romantic relationships with them.

Wilawan's bank accounts received approximately 385 million baht ($11.9 million) over the past three years, but most of these funds were spent on online gambling sites, the police said.

An investigation launched in June 2025

Screenshot taken from the live broadcast of the press conference given by the Thai Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok, on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

Jaroonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, stated that the investigation began last month after an abbot of a famous temple in Bangkok abruptly left monastic life.

Investigators discovered that the abbot had been blackmailed by Wilawan due to their romantic relationship.

She allegedly told him that she was pregnant and asked him to pay her 7.2 million baht ($222,000) to help her financially, Jaroonkiat said at a press conference in Bangkok on Tuesday.

The police believed that 'this woman is dangerous and needs to be stopped as soon as possible,' Jaroonkiat said.

Thai media reported that a search of her mobile phones revealed tens of thousands of photos and videos, as well as numerous chat histories indicating intimate relationships with several monks.

Many of these documents could be used for blackmail purposes.

The government is trying to restore confidence in Buddhism

Buddhist monks receiving offerings. Photo: Ya tonavanik

The vast majority of Thai monks follow the precepts of Theravada Buddhism, which imposes celibacy on them and even forbids them from touching a woman.

Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub stated on Tuesday:

“The interim Prime Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, has ordered the authorities to review and consider tightening existing laws relating to monks and temples.

In particular with regard to the transparency of temple finances, in order to restore confidence in Buddhism.

The Central Investigation Bureau has created a Facebook page to allow people to report monks who misbehave.

We will investigate the monks throughout the country.

I think this survey will have repercussions that will lead to many changes. »

See also:

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

Thailand: Buddhist monks duped in a pyramid scheme

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

Thailand: a pedophile monk rapes children with impunity

When a perverted Thai monk meets a sex worker with high moral standards

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

The fortune of a former Buddhist monk turned transvestite intrigues Thais

A Buddhist monk was selling firearms online in Thailand

Source: Khaosod English