Wilawan Emsawat, 35, known by the nickname Sika Golf, is accused of being involved in secret relationships with 13 monks, as well as money laundering and receiving stolen goods
| Published July 17, 2025
In a scandal shaking Thailand’s religious and social foundations, a 35-year-old woman named Wilawan Emsawat has been arrested for allegedly engaging in sexual relationships with senior Buddhist monks and using secretly recorded footage to blackmail them for millions. The case, described by authorities as one of the most damaging to the public image of the Thai Sangha (Buddhist monastic order), has triggered a national uproar. With over 385 million baht (around $11.9 million) reportedly funneled into her accounts, the revelations have not only exposed moral decay within the clergy but also reignited long-standing concerns about corruption, power, and accountability in Thailand’s religious institutions.
🕵️ Case Overview
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Who: Wilawan Emsawat (aka “Golf”), a 35-year-old Thai woman.
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What happened: Authorities allege she engaged in intimate relationships with multiple senior Buddhist monks—some abbots—and used photos/videos to extort them for money.
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How it came to light: The scandal surfaced after Phra Thep Wachirapamok, a prominent abbot, abruptly left Thailand reportedly due to being blackmailed by Wilawan, who claimed she was pregnant and demanded nearly 7.2 million baht (≈ $222k).
🔻 Key Events Unfolded:
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Initial Trigger: The scandal came to light when Phra Thep Wachirapamok, a senior abbot of a royal temple, suddenly left Thailand. Investigators later revealed he had been extorted by Wilawan, who claimed to be pregnant and demanded 7.2 million baht (~$222,000).
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Blackmail Scheme: Wilawan reportedly built sexual relationships with multiple monks over time, often engaging in private messaging, video calls, and in-person meetings. She would later record explicit content without their knowledge or consent, then threaten to release the footage unless paid.
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Monks’ Responses: Many monks complied out of fear of public scandal, temple disgrace, and potential defrocking. Others attempted to quietly resign or leave the monkhood altogether. Some even tried to divert temple donation money to settle her demands.
🔍 Investigation Findings
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Digital Evidence
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Police seized five phones containing “tens of thousands” of explicit photos/videos and chat logs.
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Extortion & Funds
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Over three years, investigators traced around 385 million baht (~$11.9 million) transferred into Wilawan’s accounts, reportedly spent largely on online gambling.
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Monastic Fallout
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At least nine senior monks, including abbots, have been defrocked or resigned. Some face separate charges for misuse of temple funds.
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⚖️ Legal Charges & Initial Response
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Wilawan Emsawat is charged with extortion, money laundering, and receiving stolen property.
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Thai authorities (Central Investigation Bureau and the National Office of Buddhism) have pledged a nationwide push to root out misconduct. A Facebook portal now enables whistleblowing on errant monks. The acting Prime Minister has called for stricter financial transparency in temples; even the Thai King annulled monastic titles for accused monks.
Currently, nine-out-of-13 monks involved have been disrobed, and the number of individuals involved is expected to increase (file photo)
Since the situation came to light, one monk has even openly admitted that Wilawan had gifted him a car during their secret romance, but that things turned sour when he discovered she was also involved with another monk (file photo)
🧠 Broader Implications & Public Reaction
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The scandal has triggered a national debate about systemic abuse of power and wealth within the clergy.
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Critics argue too much privilege shields monks from accountability, while the woman at the center gains disproportionate scrutiny. As one Bangkok Post commentator observed:
“When the clergy’s moral decay is in full view, it’s the woman who takes the fall while the monks are cast as victims.”
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Comparisons have been drawn with earlier temple fraud investigations (2017–2020), highlighting longstanding issues with opaque temple finances.
Wilawan Emsawat is accused of blackmailing Buddhist monks for millions of pounds
Ms Emsawat was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly filming herself have sex with Buddhist monks
Overall Takeaway:
The case of Wilawan Emsawat has become more than just a scandal involving sex and blackmail—it is now a national reckoning for Thailand’s religious establishment. While the explicit nature of the events grabbed headlines, the deeper issues it exposed—unchecked monastic privilege, financial corruption, and the vulnerability of sacred institutions to modern vice—have sparked widespread outrage and debate.
As authorities press charges and continue to uncover the extent of the scheme, public trust in the Sangha is severely shaken. The incident has underscored the urgent need for financial transparency, moral accountability, and institutional reform within Thailand’s Buddhist clergy.
Whether this scandal becomes a turning point for genuine reform or fades into history as another buried disgrace will depend on how Thailand’s legal system, religious leaders, and civil society respond in the months to come. For now, the country stands at a crossroads—between reverence and reckoning.
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