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India Today
5 days ago
- India Today
Sex, tapes and scandal: How Ms Golf extorted millions from Thai monks
The police in Thailand have arrested a woman who allegedly had sexual relationships with several Buddhist monks and later extorted them, demanding money in exchange for not leaking explicit photos and videos. The woman, known as "Ms Golf", had sex with at least nine monks, police said at a press conference on July 15. They believe she received around 385 million baht ($11.9 million) over the past three scandal is the latest to rock Thailand's much-revered Buddhist institution, which in recent years has been plagued by allegations of monks engaging in sex offences and drug who searched her house found more than 80,000 photos and videos used to blackmail the monks, a police spokesperson said, according to a report by The Guardian."We checked her financial trail and found that it involves many temples," Jaroonkiat Pankaew from the Thai police's central investigation bureau told a press briefing on July 15."After we seized her mobile, we checked and found that there were several monks involved, and several [video] clips and Line chats," he IS THE SCANDAL INVOLVING MONKS IN THAILAND?Police said the case first came to their attention in the middle of June, when they learnt that an abbot in Bangkok had suddenly left the monkhood after being extorted by a Golf "had a relationship" with the monk in May 2024, police later claimed to having his baby and demanded child support of more than seven million baht, they then discovered that other monks had also transferred money to Ms Golf — which police called her "modus operandi".Police added they found that nearly all the money had been withdrawn, and some of it had been used for online investigators searched Ms Golf's house earlier this month, they seized her phones and found more than 80,000 photos and videos that she had used to blackmail the monks, police is facing multiple charges, including extortion, money laundering, and receiving stolen goods. The police have also opened a hotline for people to report "misbehaving monks".HARSHER PUNISHMENT: MORE JAIL TIMES AND FINEThe scandal has prompted the Sangha Supreme Council, the governing body for Thai Buddhism, to announce that it will form a special committee to review monastic government is also pushing for harsher penalties, including fines and jail time, for monks who breach the monastic week, Thailand's King Vajiralongkorn revoked a royal command he had issued in June conferring higher titles to 81 monks. He cited the recent cases of misconduct, which he said have "caused Buddhists to suffer greatly in their minds".In Thailand, where more than 90% of the population identify as Buddhist, monks are highly revered. Many Thai men also choose to temporarily ordain as monks to accumulate good HAVE PLAGUED BUDDHIST CLERGY IN THAILANDBut the Buddhist institution has been plagued by scandals in recent Sukphol, a jet-setting monk known for his lavish lifestyle, made international headlines in 2017 when he was charged with sex offences, fraud, and money in 2022, a temple in the northern province of Phetchabun was left without any monks after all four of its monks were arrested in a drug raid and were years of criticism about disciplinary and accountability issues within the Thai Sangha, many say there has been little real change in the centuries-old institution. A big part of the problem lies with its strict hierarchy, say much of the coverage has focused on the woman at the centre of the scandal, experts told several media outlets that the case raises important questions about the money and power that enable such behaviour."When the clergy's moral decay is in full view, it's the woman who takes the fall while the monks are cast as victims," wrote one commentator, Sanitsuda Ekachai, in the Bangkok Post, deriding what she said was a feudal-like system in which monks "live in privilege, surrounded by wealth and deference."Another op-ed published by Thai broadcaster PBS thanked Wilawan for her role in exposing the conduct, saying: "Without her, these deep-rooted malpractices might never have come to light."Monks in Thailand receive monthly food allowances of between 2,500–34,200 baht (57–785), depending on their rank, but temples and monks also receive donations. The latter can prove especially lucrative for monks of higher stature, who might be given tens of thousands of baht, or even more, by wealthy individuals.- Ends advertisement
India Today
5 days ago
- India Today
80,000 sex videos, Rs 100-crore extortion: Scandal rocks Thailand's monks
It started with the sudden disappearance of a senior monk from a Bangkok temple in June. The Houdini act prompted an investigation, which uncovered a saga of blackmail, sex, extortion, rocking Thailand's much-revered Buddhist institution, The Guardian investigation into the disappearance of senior monk Phra Thep Wachirapamok led police to the residence of a woman named "Ms Golf", who has been identified as Wilawan searches, the police stumbled upon mobile phones containing tens of thousands (around 80,000) of intimate photos and videos of Emsawat with Wachirapamok and several other monks. The incident came as a bolt out of the blue for Thailand, whose monks are known as world renouncers and strictly follow their vow of IS MS GOLF, AKA WILAWAN EMSAWAT? Emsawat, 30, was arrested and charged with extortion and money laundering. Her modus operandi involved seducing monks, recording intimate moments with them, and extorting huge sums of money by threatening to leak the far, police have found that Emsawat had relations with at least nine monks, who have now been defrocked, The Guardian reported. She received around 385 million baht (over Rs 102 crore) over the past three years from the the missing monk is yet to be traced. Police said Emsawat had a relationship with the monk in May 2024. She claimed to have given birth to his baby and demanded child support of more than seven million baht (1.90 crore).A probe into her bank accounts revealed that other monks had also transferred large amounts of money. She also received private gifts from monks as well as lavish items like a Mercedes-Benz SLK200. Police found that most funds were spent on online Emsawat, speaking to local media before her arrest, claimed she was involved in only one relationship, and she gave money to that ROCKS THAILANDWith the scandal garnering global headlines, Thai police have opened a hotline for people to tip off on "misbehaving monks".The case has also drawn police attention to the large sums of money donated to Buddhist temples. The money is controlled by senior monks, known as scandal has prompted Thailand's acting Prime Minister to order a review of laws governing monk behaviour and temple finances. The Sangha Supreme Council, the governing body for Buddhism in Thailand, has also formed a special committee to review regulations.- EndsTune InTrending Reel
Bangkok Post
7 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Supreme Patriarch backs reform effort
The Supreme Patriarch is calling for a sweeping overhaul of the country's monastic laws, urging the government to review the Sangha Act and revise outdated regulations to safeguard the sanctity of Buddhism, according to acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai yesterday. After meeting the Supreme Patriarch at Wat Ratchabophit yesterday, Mr Phumtham said in the wake of recent scandals which have rocked the monastic community, His Holiness is calling on all Thais to fully commit to protecting the religion. He said the Supreme Patriarch is in favour of reviewing the Sangha Act, which was first enacted in 1962, to ensure its relevance in today's society. "The Supreme Patriarch has also made it clear that action must be taken against monks who violate the monastic code," he said. "His Holiness also supports a plan by authorities to draft new regulations. He called for a thorough review of the Sangha Act to strengthen its provisions." He said that any amendments to the law must be coordinated with the Sangha Supreme Council, but emphasised that the Supreme Patriarch had already set the tone for a stricter and more disciplined approach. The Minister of the Prime Minister's Office, Suchart Tancharoen, echoed the call for reform. He said a working group is studying the Sangha Act to find ways to improve transparency and ensure punishment for misconduct. The reform process is being fast-tracked with input from relevant agencies to ensure the solutions are comprehensive and practical, he said. "We've already begun coordinating with the Ministry of Interior, local administrative bodies, and the national police," Mr Suchart said. "The National Office of Buddhism [NOB] may not have the authority to make arrests, but other agencies can, and everyone is taking this matter seriously. We must act now to protect the faith, and remember that wrongdoing is individual, not institutional." He confirmed he has instructed the NOB to draft the amendments within two weeks. Separately, opposition and People's Party leader, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, said his party is drafting its own version of the Sangha Act to address transparency in temple finances. He proposed that all donations over 100,000 baht be processed through electronic systems to ensure accountability. Key points in the draft include mandatory digital accounting of temple incomes, the use of e-donation systems for transparency, and strict bans on gambling or unethical conduct involving monks. Disciplinary and legal action will be taken without any exceptions. National Police chief Pol Gen Kittharath Punpetch said yesterday that the police have received 69 complaints against monks for misconduct.
Mint
17-07-2025
- Mint
Woman earns ₹100 crore by blackmailing Thai monks with thousands of ‘intimate' photos and videos
At least nine Thai monks were extorted of a whopping 385 million baht ( ₹ 102.14 crore) over the past three years by a single woman. Yes, just one woman! According to a BBC news report, this woman, whom the police refer to as 'Ms Golf', allegedly engaged in sexual activities with the monks and then used the pictures and videos of the act to extort money from them. Over 80,000 photos and videos used to blackmail the monks were found in her house during the investigation. The case first came to the police's attention in mid-June after an abbot in Bangkok suddenly left monkhood. According to Thai police, Ms Golf 'had a relationship' with a monk in May 2024. She later claimed to have his baby and demanded child support of more than 7 million baht. However, upon investigation, the police learnt that the other monks were blackmailed in a similar fashion, calling it her "modus operandi". Nearly all of the money she extorted has been withdrawn, and some of it has been used for online gambling, said the police. Ms Golf, the woman behind the scandal of millions, is facing multiple charges including extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen goods. This scandal is the latest to rock Thailand's much-revered Buddhist institution, which in recent years has been plagued with allegations of monks engaging in sex offences and drug trafficking. The police have now opened a hotline for people to report 'misbehaving monks'. In Thailand, where over 90% of the population identify as Buddhist, monks are deeply respected. It's common for many Thai men to temporarily ordain as monks to gain merit and accumulate good karma. However, the recent scandal has led the Sangha Supreme Council—the governing authority of Thai Buddhism—to announce plans for a special committee to review existing monastic regulations.
Mint
17-07-2025
- Mint
Woman earns ₹100 crore by blackmailing Thai monks with thousands of ‘intimate' photos and videos
At least nine Thai monks were extorted of a whopping 385 million baht ( ₹ 102.14 crore) over the past three years by a single woman. Yes, just one woman! According to a BBC news report, this woman, whom the police refer to as 'Ms Golf', allegedly engaged in sexual activities with the monks and then used the pictures and videos of the act to extort money from them. Over 80,000 photos and videos used to blackmail the monks were found in her house during the investigation. The case first came to the police's attention in mid-June after an abbot in Bangkok suddenly left monkhood. According to Thai police, Ms Golf 'had a relationship' with a monk in May 2024. She later claimed to have his baby and demanded child support of more than 7 million baht. However, upon investigation, the police learnt that the other monks were blackmailed in a similar fashion, calling it her "modus operandi". Nearly all of the money she extorted has been withdrawn, and some of it has been used for online gambling, said the police. Ms Golf, the woman behind the scandal of millions, is facing multiple charges including extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen goods. This scandal is the latest to rock Thailand's much-revered Buddhist institution, which in recent years has been plagued with allegations of monks engaging in sex offences and drug trafficking. The police have now opened a hotline for people to report 'misbehaving monks'. In Thailand, where over 90% of the population identify as Buddhist, monks are deeply respected. It's common for many Thai men to temporarily ordain as monks to gain merit and accumulate good karma. However, the recent scandal has led the Sangha Supreme Council—the governing authority of Thai Buddhism—to announce plans for a special committee to review existing monastic regulations. Meanwhile, the government is advocating stricter penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for monks found violating the monastic code.
