logo
Thai police arrest woman who allegedly seduced and blackmailed Buddhist monks

Thai police arrest woman who allegedly seduced and blackmailed Buddhist monks

New York Post15-07-2025
Police in Thailand arrested a woman Tuesday who allegedly enticed a string of Buddhist monks into sexual relationships and then pressured them into making large payments to cover up their intimacy.
The possible violation of the celibacy rule for monks has rocked Buddhist institutions and gripped public attention in Thailand in recent weeks. 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.
Wilawan Emsawat, in her mid-30s, was arrested at her home in Nonthaburi province north of the capital Bangkok on charges including extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen goods. Police said they traced money transferred to her by a senior monk from a bank account belonging to his temple in northern Thailand.
Advertisement
3 The possible violation of the celibacy rule for monks has rocked Buddhist institutions and gripped public attention in Thailand in recent weeks.
AP
Wilawan has not made a statement since her arrest and it was unclear if she has legal representation. Speaking to local media before her arrest, she acknowledged one relationship and said she had given money to that monk.
Scandals involving monks surface a few times a year in Thailand but usually don't involve senior members of the clergy. The case also puts a spotlight on the large sums of money donated to temples controlled by abbots, which is in marked contrast to the abstemious lives they are supposed to lead under their religion's precepts.
Advertisement
Wilawan deliberately targeted senior monks for financial gain, police said, noting they found several monks had transferred large amounts of money after Wilawan initiated romantic relationships with them.
Wilawan's bank accounts received around 385 million baht ($11.9 million) in the past three years, but most of the funds were spent on online gambling websites, police said.
3 Wilawan has not made a statement since her arrest and it was unclear if she has legal representation.
Ploy Phutpheng/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
Jaroonkiat Pankaew, a Central Investigation Bureau deputy commissioner, said the investigation began last month after an abbot of a famous temple in Bangkok abruptly left the monkhood.
Advertisement
Investigators found the abbot had allegedly been blackmailed by Wilawan over their romantic relationship. She told the monk that she was pregnant and asked him to pay 7.2 million baht ($222,000) in financial assistance, Jaroonkiat said at a news conference in Bangkok Tuesday.
Police believed 'this woman is dangerous and we needed to arrest her as soon as possible,' Jaroonkiat said.
Thai media reported a search of her mobile phones revealed tens of thousands of photos and videos, as well as numerous chat logs indicating intimacy with several monks, many of which could be used for blackmail.
3 Police believed 'this woman is dangerous and we needed to arrest her as soon as possible,' Jaroonkiat said.
Central Investigation Bureau
Advertisement
Thai monks are largely members of the Theravada sect, which requires them to be celibate and refrain from even touching a woman.
Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai ordered authorities to review and consider tightening existing laws related to monks and temples, especially the transparency of temple finances, to restore faith in Buddhism, government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub said Tuesday.
The Central Investigation Bureau has set up a Facebook page for people to report monks who misbehave, Jaroonkiat said.
'We will investigate monks across the country,' he said. 'I believe that the ripple effects of this investigation will lead to a lot of changes.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Vandals set fire to a mouse statue that's a TV star and mascot for a German broadcaster
Vandals set fire to a mouse statue that's a TV star and mascot for a German broadcaster

San Francisco Chronicle​

timean hour ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Vandals set fire to a mouse statue that's a TV star and mascot for a German broadcaster

BERLIN (AP) — Vandals set fire to a mouse statue that's a TV star and mascot for children's programming at German broadcaster WDR, the television station said Saturday. The cartoon mouse, known only as 'Die Maus,' is the eponymous star of 'Die Sendung mit der Maus' (The Show with the Mouse) since it first aired in West Germany in 1971. Each short episode features other languages and educational segments. The statue — featuring the character's famous orange body with brown ears, arms and legs — greets families and children outside a media building in Cologne, Germany. A receptionist for WDR saw several young people standing around the statue in Cologne on a camera feed overnight Friday into Saturday. She then noticed flames and called the fire department, WDR said. The fire blackened parts of the mouse's face and arm, images show. The station said a police complaint had been filed against an unidentified person. Matthias Körnich, head of children's programming for WDR, said it's not just a figurine that was damaged. 'A piece of childhood, a symbol of joy and togetherness has been attacked,' he said. 'The mouse belongs to Cologne.'

Military clash between Thailand, Cambodia escalates at border
Military clash between Thailand, Cambodia escalates at border

UPI

timean hour ago

  • UPI

Military clash between Thailand, Cambodia escalates at border

A crater is seen near homes at a residential area amid clashes along the disputed Thai-Cambodian border, in Surin Province, Thailand, on Saturday. Photo by Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/EPA July 26 (UPI) -- Cambodia and Thailand military forces on Saturday fought each other for the third day over contested border territory as the death toll rose to at least 32. The dead were 19 in Thailand, including 13 civilians, and 13 in Cambodia, with eight civilians, in the bloodiest fighting in more than a decade, The Guardian reported. Acting Thai Prime Minister warned the situation "could develop into war." "For now, it remains limited to clashes," he told reporters in Bangkok, and his nation was acting to "protect our land and the sovereignty of our nation." Fighting involving tanks began Thursday near Prasat Ta Muen Thom, an ancient temple claimed by both nations. Thailand also used F-16 jets. Weapons included cluster munitions, which are internationally prohibited though both nations haven't agreed to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. "Neither Thailand nor Cambodia appears to be paying attention to international humanitarian law at great expense to civilians," John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, said in a news release Friday. "Diplomatic efforts underway need to prioritize protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure." On Friday, United Nations diplomats from both countries sought a cease-fire during an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council in New York. Cherdchai Chaivaivid, Thailand's envoy to the U.N., urged Cambodia to "immediately cease all hostilities and acts of aggression, and resume dialogue in good faith." The diplomat said his nation agreed "in principle" to the deal but said Cambodia was continuing "indiscriminate attacks on Thai territory." Cambodia's U.N. ambassador, Chhea Keo said "Cambodia asked for an immediate cease-fire -- unconditionally -- and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute," said Chea Keo, Cambodia's U.N. ambassador. "If this conflict escalates, the peace and stability of the entire Southeast Asia region will be at stake," Keo added. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to exercise the "utmost restraint." "The United States is gravely concerned by reports of the escalating fighting along the Thailand-Cambodia border," a State Department press spokesperson said Thursday. "We are particularly alarmed by reports of harm to innocent civilians. We express our deepest condolences on the loss of life. We strongly urge the immediate cessation of attacks, protection of civilians, and peaceful settlement of disputes." On Saturday, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social from Scotland that he "I just had a very good call with the Prime Minister of Cambodia, and informed him of my discussions with Thailand, and its Acting Prime Minister. Both Parties are looking for an immediate Ceasefire and Peace. They are also looking to get back to the 'Trading Table' with the United States, which we think is inappropriate to do until such time as the fighting STOPS. "They have a long and storied History and Culture. They will hopefully get along for many years to come. When all is done, and Peace is at hand, I look forward to concluding our Trading Agreements with both!" Malaysia, which heads the 10-member Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, offered to mediate. China has also expressed concern about the situation, which worsened on Saturday. Cambodia's Ministry of Defense accused Thailand of "unprovoked and premeditated act of aggression" on -- firing five heavy artillery shells in Pursat Province on the southern edge of the shared border. Thailand said Cambodia attacked in neighboring Trat Province but their naval forces pushed back "the incursion" early Saturday. Trat, bordering the Gulf of Thailand and the Pacific Ocean, includes numerous islands with white-sand beaches and coral reefs. Tensions have escalated since May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in an exchange with gunfire. Then last week, Thai soldiers were injured by new landmines. Cambodia has denied putting them there. Thailand recalled its ambassador from Cambodia and said it would expel Cambodia's diplomat in Bangkok. At least 138,000 people have been evacuated from Thailand's borders. Cambodia said more than 23,000 people were moved from near the border. Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Thai prime minister, visited evacuees at a shelter in Ubon Ratchathani Province on Saturday morning. Cambodia has a population of 17.4 million and Thailand has 71.7 million residents. Vietnam borders both nations.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store