KLIK SAJA – Thai police have arrested a woman who allegedly engaged in sexual relations with several Buddhist monks and then used photos and videos of the encounters to extort money from them.
The woman, identified by authorities as “Ms. Golf,” is said to have had sexual relations with at least nine monks, according to a police press conference held on Tuesday.
Investigators estimate that she received approximately 385 million baht (around $10.5 million) over the past three years from her victims.
A search of her residence uncovered over 80,000 photos and videos used to blackmail the monks, police said.
The case marks the latest scandal to shake Thailand’s highly revered Buddhist institution, which has been plagued in recent years by allegations of sexual misconduct and drug-related crimes involving monks.
Authorities revealed the case first came to light in mid-June, when an abbot in Bangkok abruptly left the monastic order after being extorted by a woman.
According to the investigation, Ms. Golf had a relationship with the monk in May 2024, later claiming she was pregnant and demanding over 7 million baht in child support.
Further inquiries revealed that other monks had transferred money to Ms. Golf under similar circumstances, forming a clear pattern that police described as her modus operandi.
Authorities added that most of the extorted funds were withdrawn in cash, with a portion reportedly used for online gambling.
When police raided Ms. Golf’s home earlier this month, they seized her phones and uncovered tens of thousands of images and videos she had allegedly used in her blackmail scheme.
She is now facing multiple charges, including extortion, money laundering, and possession of illicitly obtained property.
In response to the scandal, Thai police have set up a special hotline for the public to report misbehaving monks.
The controversy has prompted the Sangha Supreme Council—the governing body of Thai Buddhism—to form a special committee to review monastic regulations.
The Thai government is also pushing for stricter penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for monks who violate the monastic code.
