Thailand-
Thailand’s Buddhist establishment has been rocked by a high-profile sex scandal involving a woman named Wilawan Emsawat, alias “Sika Golf,” and numerous senior monks.
On July 15th, 2025, Thai police arrested Emsawat in Nonthaburi province, charging her with extortion, money laundering, and receiving stolen goods. The scandal, which has gripped public attention, has led to the disrobing of at least nine senior monks and abbots, with investigations ongoing into others.
The case came to light earlier as we covered here when an abbot from Wat Tri Thotsathep in Bangkok abruptly left the monkhood, reportedly fleeing to Laos after Emsawat allegedly blackmailed him. She claimed to be pregnant and demanded 7.2 million baht ($222,000) in child support. A police raid on her home uncovered over 80,000 explicit photos and videos, along with chat logs indicating intimate relationships with multiple monks, which she allegedly used for blackmail.
Authorities estimate Emsawat extorted approximately 385 million baht ($11.9 million) over three years, much of which was spent on online gambling.
The scandal has implicated monks from prominent temples across Thailand, including in Phichit, Phetchabun, and Ayutthaya. Notably, the former abbot of Wat Chujit Dhammaram in Ayutthaya admitted to transferring 12.8 million baht from his personal account and 380,000 baht from temple funds to Emsawat. The National Office of Buddhism (NOB) is now investigating potential embezzlement by disgraced ex-monks and has proposed stricter laws to regulate temple finances and monastic conduct.
In response, Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has ordered a review of laws governing monks and temples to restore public faith in Buddhism, a cornerstone of Thai society where over 90% of the population is Buddhist. The Central Investigation Bureau has also launched a Facebook page to report monastic misconduct, signaling a broader crackdown.
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
