The woman was having sex with monks to blackmail them - BBC
The woman whom the police call "Ms. Golf" had sexual contacts with at least nine monks, law enforcement officials announced at a Tuesday press conference. According to their calculations, over the past three years she received approximately 385 million bahts (about 11.9 million US dollars), reports BBC.
Investigators who searched her house found over 80,000 photographs and videos used by the woman to blackmail monks, the police spokesperson said.
This scandal is the latest in a series concerning the deeply respected institution of Buddhism in Thailand, members of which have been repeatedly accused in recent years of sexual crimes and drug trafficking.
Police stated that they first became aware of this case in mid-June, when they learned that one of the abbots of a monastery in Bangkok suddenly renounced his monastic vows after becoming a victim of blackmail by a woman. According to law enforcement, Ms. Golf began her relationship with this monk in May 2024. Later, she claimed she was pregnant by him and demanded alimony of over seven million bahts.
Authorities established that other monks also transferred money to Ms. Golf in a similar manner. It is also reported that nearly all the funds were withdrawn from the account, and some of them spent on gambling.
During a search of Ms. Golf's house in early July, investigators confiscated her phones, where they found over 80,000 photographs and videos used by her to blackmail monks. The woman was charged with several offenses, including extortion, money laundering, and receiving stolen property.
The police also opened a hotline for reports of "misconduct by monks".
This scandal prompted the Sangha Supreme Council – the governing body of Thai Buddhism – to announce the creation of a special committee to review monastic rules. The government also insists on stricter punishments, including fines and imprisonment, for monks who violate the monastic code.
This week, the King of Thailand, Vajiralongkorn, revoked a royal decree issued by him in June, which bestowed the highest titles on 81 monks. He cited recent cases of misconduct which, in his words, "cause severe suffering to Buddhists".
In Thailand, where over 90% of the population identify as Buddhists, monks enjoy great respect. Many Thai men also choose to temporarily ordain as monks, believing it will improve their karma.
However, the Buddhist institution has recently been suffering from scandals.
Virapol Sukphol, a monk known for his luxurious lifestyle, made headlines in international newspapers in 2017 when he was accused of sexual crimes, fraud, and money laundering. And in 2022, a temple in the northern province of Phetchabun was left without monks after all four of its monks were arrested during a drug-related raid and defrocked.
Despite years of criticism regarding discipline and accountability within the Thai Sangha, many say that little real change has occurred in this centuries-old institution. A significant part of the problem lies in its strict hierarchy, experts say.
"It is an authoritarian system, similar to Thai bureaucracy, where senior monks resemble high-ranking officials, and junior monks are like their subordinates," said religious studies expert Suraphet Tavisaak to BBC Thai. "When they see something inappropriate, they do not dare to speak out because they can be easily expelled from the temple," he added.
But some believe that the current investigations are a crucial step toward necessary reforms.
"It is important to uncover the truth so that the public can dispel doubts about the innocence of the Sangha," says Prakiarti Satasut, a sociologist at Bangkok University Thammasat.
