A 35-year-old woman from Thailand has been arrested after allegedly seducing senior Buddhist monks and extorting millions of dollars from them.
Police raided the home of Wirawan Emsawat, also known as ‘Sika Golf’, on July 4 during an inquiry into the sudden disappearance of a monk called Arch.
Arch went missing from the Wat Tri Thotsathep temple in Thailand.
Authorities suspected fraud or romantic entanglements and tied Arch to the 35-year-old, Wirawan.
During the search of Wirawan’s residence, police found a trove of explicit material.
Officers recovered about 80,000 pornographic files stored across five mobile phones.
The files reportedly showed Wirawan in sexual encounters with top-ranking monks, who vow celibacy, and with politicians.
Footage included a monk still wearing saffron robes while close to Wirawan.
Another clip showed a monk dressing after what appeared to be a sexual encounter.
Wirawan later allegedly admitted to coercing or blackmailing the men for money.
She reportedly said she had fathered children with some of them.
Wirawan was arrested at her home in Nonthaburi province, north of Bangkok.
Police charged her with extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen goods.
Investigators say Wirawan received about 385 million baht ($11.9 million) over three years.
Authorities allege most of that cash funded an online gambling habit.
Jaroonkiat Pankaew, a Central Investigation Bureau deputy commissioner, said Arch was among the monks allegedly blackmailed by Wirawan.
Wirawan is reported to have told Arch she was pregnant, and demanded 7.2 million baht ($222,000) in financial support.
In the scandal’s aftermath, police widened the probe into temples.
Police Major General Charoonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Cybercrime Investigation Bureau, said more than 12 Buddhist temples were under scrutiny.
“The scandals required further police investigation and action to ensure that the monastic institution remains composed solely of monks who uphold moral discipline.
“We have no intention of undermining Buddhism. However, we urge monks across the country to exercise caution when taking part in religious activities that involve laywomen.
“These individuals may present themselves as generous donors, wealthy benefactors or socialites, yet some may in fact be fraudsters seeking to gain the monks’ trust, engaging them in conversations via Line or telephone and secretly recording clips.”
The Sangha Supreme Council said monastic rules are being re-examined.
Acting secretary Chatchapol Chaiyaporn announced a new special committee will be formed to safeguard Buddhism.
“A new special committee will be formed to safeguard Buddhism, review the Sangha Act and other related laws, and enhance public communication.
The proposal will be submitted to the Supreme Patriarch for approval.”
Chaiyaporn added that loopholes in monastic law must be fixed to restore public trust.
The National Office of Buddhism has proposed penalties for misconduct.
They suggested jail terms of up to seven years and fines up to 140,000 baht ($4,303) for expelled monks.
The same punishments would apply to laypeople who knowingly have sexual relations with Buddhist monks.
Those proposed sanctions must be approved by the Sangha Supreme Council.