Latest news with #Thai
Mint
8 minutes ago
- Mint
Thai woman arrested for ‘seducing' monks in $11.9 million blackmail scheme
Thai police arrested Wilawan Emsawat ("Ms. Golf") for allegedly seducing senior Buddhist monks and blackmailing them with intimate photos and videos. The 30-year-old targeted at least nine abbots and high-ranking monks, violating strict celibacy rules of Thailand's Theravada Buddhist tradition. Her scheme unraveled when a prominent Bangkok abbot suddenly quit monkhood after she demanded 7.2 million baht ($222,000), falsely claiming pregnancy. Authorities seized over 80,000 explicit photos/videos during a raid on her Nonthaburi home, calling her "dangerous" due to the scale of her operation. Thai police arrested Wilawan Emsawat ("Ms. Golf") for allegedly seducing senior Buddhist monks and blackmailing them with intimate photos and videos. The 30-year-old targeted at least nine abbots and high-ranking monks, violating strict celibacy rules of Thailand's Theravada Buddhist tradition. Her scheme unraveled when a prominent Bangkok abbot suddenly quit monkhood after she demanded 7.2 million baht ($222,000), falsely claiming pregnancy. Authorities seized over 80,000 explicit photos/videos during a raid on her Nonthaburi home, calling her "dangerous" due to the scale of her operation. Monks allegedly paid Wilawan from temple donation accounts, funneling 385 million baht ($11.9 million) to her over three years . Police traced transfers from multiple monasteries, revealing how abbots diverted religious funds, including one northern temple's entire bank reserve. Most money vanished into online gambling sites, with investigators finding only minimal remaining balances. The scandal highlights the vast, poorly monitored donations to Thailand's 40,000+ temples, contrasting with monks' vows of poverty. Nine senior monks have been expelled from the monkhood, with more under investigation . Thailand's King Vajiralongkorn revoked royal honors from 81 monks following the scandal, citing "great suffering" caused to Buddhists . Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai ordered urgent reforms: tightening financial oversight at temples, creating stricter penalties for monk misconduct, and launching a Facebook hotline for public reports. According to reports, The Sangha Supreme Council (Buddhism's governing body) will form a special committee to overhaul monastic rules. Meanwhile, police continue analyzing Wilawan's phone data, which suggests more monks may be implicated. She faces charges including extortion and money laundering while awaiting trial.
Global News
37 minutes ago
- Global News
Woman accused of seducing, blackmailing Buddhist monks for millions
Police in Thailand have arrested a woman they say seduced and had sexual relationships with Buddhist monks and then used videos and photos taken during the sex acts to blackmail them for millions of dollars. Wilawan Emsawat allegedly had sex with at least nine abbots and senior monks, police said at a press conference on Tuesday. They believe she received around 385 million baht (approximately C$16.25 million) over the past three years. Police said she spent the majority of the funds she received on online gambling websites. The scandal, which first came to police attention in mid-June, has rocked Thailand's revered Buddhist institution. Monks operate under a strict celibacy rule, and those found caught up in the violations have been disrobed and cast out of the monkhood, the Royal Thai Police Central Investigation Bureau said. 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. Story continues below advertisement Wilawan deliberately targeted senior monks for financial gain, police said, noting they found that several monks had transferred large amounts of money after Wilawan initiated romantic relationships with them. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Investigators who searched her house found more than 80,000 photos and videos used to blackmail the monks, the police spokesman said. Police said they first began looking into the case after an abbot at a famous Bangkok temple abruptly left the monkhood last month. View image in full screen A screengrab made from the livestream of Thailand's Central Investigation Bureau holding a press conference in Bangkok, on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, about the arrest of a woman involved in a sex scandal that caused several senior monks to leave monkhood. 1 In their investigation, they found the departed abbot had allegedly been blackmailed by Wilawan. She had told the monk she was pregnant and asked him for 7.2 million baht (more than C$300,000) in support payments, Jaroonkiat Pankaew, a Central Investigation Bureau deputy commissioner, told reporters at a news conference. Police believed 'this woman is dangerous and we needed to arrest her as soon as possible,' Jaroonkiat said. Story continues below advertisement Acting Thai 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.' Wilawan is now facing charges of extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen goods. — With files from The Associated Press
Kuwait Times
41 minutes ago
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Thai ex-PM Thaksin appears on stand in defamation case
BANGKOK: Thailand's suspended PM and newly-sworn in Culture Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (right) walks with her father Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (center) at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok.-- AFP BANGKOK: Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra testified in court on Wednesday, seeking to defend himself against royal defamation charges in a watershed case for his faltering political dynasty. Thaksin faces up to 15 years in prison if he is convicted in the closed-door trial in Bangkok, where he stands accused of breaching strict lese majeste laws that shield Thailand's royal family from abuse and criticism. For the past quarter-century, the 75-year-old telecoms magnate has been a defining figure of Thai politics, founding a political clan which has jousted with the traditional pro-royal, pro-military elite. But his prosecution — combined with the suspension of his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, this month — represents a dramatic waning of their family's political fortune, analysts say. The prosecutors' case revolves around remarks Thaksin made to South Korean media a decade ago. Thaksin's lawyer Winyat Chatmontri told AFP he gave testimony in the morning 'and will continue throughout the rest of the day'. The court has scheduled the verdict for August 22, he told reporters. Around 50 Thaksin supporters gathered at the courthouse wearing red shirts — the color of his political movement — emblazoned with his portrait. 'He is a very talented guy,' 79-year-old retired accountant Vaew Wilailak told AFP. 'But from past experience, bad people just want to get rid of him.' Thaksin returned to Thailand in August 2023 after 15 years in exile, following a military coup which ousted him from the premiership he was twice elected to. He returned the day his family's Pheu Thai party took office at the head of a coalition government backed by their conservative former enemies, fuelling suspicions a backroom deal had been struck. Thaksin was immediately sentenced to eight years in prison on graft and abuse of power charges — later reduced to one year by a pardon from King Maha Vajiralongkorn. But political analyst Yuttaporn Issarachai told AFP: 'There is always someone within the establishment who sees him as a threat to Thai society.' In recent interviews, Thaksin affirmed his loyalty to the monarchy and expressed gratitude for the king's pardon. Speaking to AFP outside the court on the trial's opening day on July 1, Thaksin's lawyer Winyat said his client appeared 'chill' despite the seriousness of the case. On the same day, Thaksin's daughter Paetongtarn was suspended by the Constitutional Court pending an ethics probe into her conduct during a leaked diplomatic phone call discussing a deadly border clash between Thailand and neighboring Cambodia. In the call, Paetongtarn addressed Cambodian ex-leader Hun Sen as 'uncle' and described a Thai military commander as an 'opponent'—sparking backlash for seeming to kowtow to a foreign statesman and undermine her own country's military. Pheu Thai's coalition has been abandoned by key conservative backers over the call, leaving it with a razor-thin parliamentary majority steered by a caretaker prime minister. – AFP
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
After Anti-Corruption Bureau, Enforcement Directorate likely to probe Telangana irrigation engineers
Hyderabad: Enforcement Directorate (ED) is likely to open a money laundering investigation against engineers linked to major irrigation projects, once it secures the requisite first information reports (FIRs) from Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Agency sources said that it would investigate the alleged diversion of govt funds into private companies and the use of these proceeds for destination weddings abroad. Among those under scrutiny are engineers N Sridhar, Muralidhar Rao and Hariram Naik. ED Examining Investments in Muralidhar Rao's Family Ventures You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad In all three cases, the ED might scrutinise shareholding patterns, bank transfers, and social infrastructure that might suggest misuse of public money for personal gain. According to sources, ED aims to determine whether state funds were funnelled into these entities. An unexplained transaction of funds for a Thai wedding, allegedly linked to an engineer's kin, has escalated the probe for potential FEMA irregularities. ED has formally requested detailed records from ACB concerning the cases against Sridhar, Muralidhar Rao and Hariram Naik. Documents sought include FIRs, chargesheets, and statements, which ED might use to support PMLA proceedings. High-value cash deposits, recent overseas travel, and unexplained asset purchases were expected to form a key part of the probe. The planned ED investigation follows high-profile action by ACB, which recently arrested Muralidhar Rao in a Rs 50 crore disproportionate assets case and uncovered luxury assets, villas, and companies.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Thai woman ‘seduced', extorted senior monks for millions, arrested
A Thai woman has been arrested for allegedly seducing several senior Buddhist monks and blackmailing them for money with their intimate material. The monks allegedly diverted money from temple accounts to meet Wilawan's financial demands.(AP) The accused, Wilawan Emsawat, who is believed to be in her mid-30s, was arrested at her home in Bangkok's Nonthaburi province. As a result of the scandal, 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. Also Read | Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended: Why Thailand ousted two prime ministers in a year Authorities say she targeted high-ranking monks, lured them into sexual relationships, and then demanded large payouts to keep their affairs secret, the AP news agency reported. The monks allegedly diverted money from temple accounts to meet Wilawan's financial demands. A scandal fueled by seduction, extortion The case came to light after the sudden and unexplained resignation of a prominent abbot in Bangkok, said Jaroonkiat Pankaew, a Central Investigation Bureau deputy commissioner. Investigators later uncovered that he had been coerced by Wilawan, who claimed she was pregnant and demanded a staggering 7.2 million baht (approx. $222,000) to remain silent, the news agency reported. Also Read | Thailand's trade proposal to the US includes zero tariffs on some imports, says finance minister Police believed "this woman is dangerous and we needed to arrest her as soon as possible", Jaroonkiat said. Police believe this wasn't an isolated incident. Evidence from Wilawan's mobile phones has 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. Trail of money found Over the past three years, Wilawan reportedly received around 385 million baht (roughly $11.9 million) in her bank accounts—much of it transferred by monks using temple funds. Also Read | Influencer Sharan Hegde's Thailand moment with Soundous Moufakir grabs attention online Despite the seriousness of the allegations, Wilawan has not made a statement since her arrest, and it was unclear if she has legal representation. Thai Buddhism under the scanner The possible violation of the celibacy rule for monks has rocked the country's religious institutions and raised serious questions about temple finances and monk conduct. Thai monks are largely members of the Theravada sect, which requires them to be celibate and refrain from even touching a woman. 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.
