Representative image
Credit: X@Phakphakhin Harnching
A woman in Thailand, Wilawan Emsawat, has been arrested for allegedly seducing several senior Buddhist monks and extorting them using intimate visual recordings.
The cops caught Emsawat, in her 30s, at her home in Nonthaburi, a province near Bangkok.
She is accused of having sexual relations with at least nine monks, whom she later blackmailed with photos and videos. She managed to extort large sums of money from them as well in the process.
The scandal has shaken Thailand’s Buddhist community, as nine abbots and senior monks, who had physical relationships with the woman and provided money to cover up their deeds, have been disrobed and expelled.
80,000 photos and videos
A BBC report revealed that over 80,000 compromising photos and videos were found during a search of the woman's residence, which were used to coerce the monks into paying her millions of baht. The figures amounted to around 385 million baht (over Rs 101 crore), as per BBC, and were paid out over a span of three years.
Temple money used to pay her
Investigation authorities told news agency Associated Press that the woman targeted high-ranking monks and seduced them. As they fell prey to her, she demanded huge sums of money to keep the affairs under wraps.
The monks reportedly used temple money to pay the woman.
Hotline to report misbehaving monks
The matter first came to light in June, when police began their investigation after receiving a tip-off.
Emsawat now faces serious charges, including extortion, money laundering, and possession of stolen goods.
To prevent further misconduct, the Thai government has launched a dedicated hotline where the public can report any "misbehaving monks."
In response to the scandal, the government is pushing for stricter penalties for monks who break their vows, including the possibility of jail time and heavy fines.