Thai Monk Scandal Prompts Royal, Political Fallout

A high-profile sex and extortion scandal has shaken Thailand's Buddhist monastic community after Wilawan Emsawat ('Ms Golf') was arrested for blackmailing at least nine to eleven monks by secretly recording and threatening to release explicit material, resulting in nearly $12 million in extorted temple donations. The scandal led to the defrocking of implicated monks and prompted King Maha Vajiralongkorn to withdraw invitations to over 80 monks from his birthday celebrations. Authorities, including the National Office of Buddhism and police, have launched broad investigations and set up a public hotline for reporting monk misconduct. Political fallout includes controversial calls to criminalize women who have sex with monks, which critics say diverts accountability from the clergy. Investigations revealed that much of the extorted money was spent on online gambling and luxury goods. The case has intensified national debates on gender, celibacy, and corruption within Thailand's religious institutions.