Woman arrested for filming herself having s£x with Buddhist monks before blackmailing them for millions of pounds in Thailand
Published on July 17, 2025 at 4:30 PM by Edgar Naitha
THAILAND – A 35-year-old Thai woman, Wilawan Emsawat, also known as Sika Golf, has been arrested for allegedly filming herself engaging in sexual acts with Buddhist monks and using the footage to blackmail them.
Authorities claim she extorted nearly £9 million from at least 13 monks by threatening to release compromising images and videos unless large sums were paid.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) revealed that five mobile phones belonging to Emsawat contained explicit material, some showing monks still dressed in their orange robes.
Following the scandal, nine of the 13 monks implicated have already been disrobed, with investigations suggesting the number of those involved may rise.
The case gained national attention when the respected abbot of Wat Tri Thotsathep Worawihan, Phra Thep Wachirapamok, suddenly renounced his monkhood and fled to Laos in June.
It was later revealed that he had allegedly been in a secret relationship with Emsawat, who claimed to be pregnant and demanded £179,000 from him before exposing the affair when he refused to pay.
The scandal has sparked public debate, with a Senate committee now proposing that sexual relations with monks be criminalized.
However, critics argue the proposal unfairly shifts blame to women and ignores the responsibility of the monks who violated their vows.
Sanitsuda Ekachai, a columnist for the Bangkok Post, noted that women have long been scapegoated in Buddhist teachings, and this case further exposes deep hypocrisy within the religious hierarchy.
As the investigation continues, police say more monks are expected to face disciplinary actions under Buddhist law, including disrobing for breaching their celibacy vows.
