Thai Woman Arrested For Extorting Monks With Sex Videos, Photos
A woman identified as “Ms Golf” has been arrested in Thailand for allegedly extorting millions of baht from Buddhist monks using sexually explicit videos and photos she secretly recorded during their encounters.
According to Thai police, Ms Golf had sexual relations with at least nine monks over the past three years and blackmailed them using the footage.
The extortion is believed to have earned her about 385 million baht (approximately $11.9 million or £8.8 million). During a search of her home, police found over 80,000 photos and videos used in the scheme.
The scandal has once again cast a shadow over Thailand’s revered Buddhist institution, which has been rocked in recent years by various controversies, including drug and sex-related offences among monks.
Police began investigating the case in mid-June when an abbot in Bangkok abruptly left monkhood after falling victim to the blackmail. Authorities said the woman had approached him in May 2024, later claimed to be pregnant, and demanded more than seven million baht in child support.
Further investigations revealed that several monks had similarly transferred large sums to her under threat of exposure. Much of the extorted money was reportedly withdrawn and channelled into online gambling.
Ms Golf is now facing multiple charges, including extortion, money laundering, and possession of stolen property. Police have also launched a hotline for the public to report misconduct by monks.
In response, the Sangha Supreme Council — the highest authority in Thai Buddhism — has pledged to set up a special committee to review monastic rules.
The Thai government is also pushing for tougher penalties against monks who violate their religious code, including fines and jail time.
As part of the crackdown, King Vajiralongkorn this week revoked a royal decree issued in June that had promoted 81 monks, citing the growing number of misconduct cases that were damaging public trust.
With more than 90% of Thailand’s population identifying as Buddhist, monks are held in high esteem.
It’s also customary for Thai men to temporarily ordain as monks to gain merit. However, repeated scandals have shaken confidence in the institution.
Notorious cases include that of Wirapol Sukphol, a monk known for flaunting luxury goods and later convicted in 2017 for fraud and sex offences.
In 2022, all four monks at a temple in Phetchabun province were arrested in a drug raid and stripped of their robes.
Experts say a lack of accountability and rigid hierarchies within the Sangha have hindered reform. Religious scholar Suraphot Thaweesak likened the system to Thai bureaucracy, where junior monks often fear speaking out against their seniors.
Despite this, some believe the ongoing investigations could bring overdue change.
“The important thing is to reveal the truth so that the public can ease their doubts about the innocence of the Sangha,” said sociology scholar Prakirati Satasut of Thammasat University.
“It depends on whether the Supreme Sangha Council will cut off some arms and legs to save the organisation.”
BBC
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
