'$11.9m extortion ring': Who is Wilawan Emsawat? The woman at the centre of Thailand's monk scandal

A dramatic scandal involving Thailand’s senior Buddhist clergy has gripped the nation after the disappearance of a well-known monk led to a web of blackmail, sex, and temple money trails. At the centre of it all is Wilawan Emsawat , a woman now accused of seducing and extorting powerful monks, and exposing a deeper rot in Thailand’s religious institutions.

The controversy erupted after Phra Thep Wachirapamok, a respected monk from a central Bangkok temple, vanished without a trace. Investigators soon found the trail led to Wilawan, whose home was reportedly filled with phones containing tens of thousands of compromising images and videos involving monks. Her financial records showed deposits linked to temple accounts, drawing in at least nine senior clergy who have since been disrobed or dismissed.

Police say Wilawan used romantic relationships with monks to pressure them into paying large sums to maintain silence, money often transferred directly from temple funds. She allegedly claimed to be pregnant in one case and demanded 7.2 million baht from a monk who later fled the monkhood, the Guardian reported.

Wilawan, now in her mid-30s, was arrested in Nonthaburi province on charges of extortion, money laundering, and receiving stolen property. She has not commented since her arrest, and it remains unclear whether she has legal representation. However, before her arrest, she admitted to relationships with at least two monks and a religious academic. She also expressed guilt, saying she had “fallen in love.”

Police say 385 million baht (around $11.9 million) passed through Wilawan’s accounts in three years, much of which was spent on online gambling, as per the report.

Thailand’s acting Prime Minister has now ordered a review of laws governing monk behaviour and temple finances, amid growing calls for reform. The Central Investigation Bureau has opened a public tip line on social media for reporting misbehaving monks.

Who is Wilawan Emsawat?

• Nicknamed “Sika Golf” and believed to be in her mid-30s
• Arrested in Nonthaburi province on charges of extortion and money laundering
• Allegedly blackmailed multiple senior monks after initiating sexual relationships
• Claimed to be pregnant to extract over 7 million baht from one monk
• Received around 385 million baht over three years, mostly from temple-linked accounts
• Told media she had fallen in love with some of the monks and gave money to one
• Reportedly spent much of the funds on online gambling
• Phones seized from her home contained tens of thousands of compromising images and videos
• Police say she is connected to multiple temples across Thailand
• Has become a lightning rod in a scandal that has triggered broader questions about the abuse of wealth and status in Thai Buddhism.