Sex Scandal and Missing Monk Shake Thailand’s Buddhist Establishment

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

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Image Credit: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA

A widening sex scandal within Thailand’s Buddhist clergy has rocked the country’s religious establishment, following the mysterious disappearance of a highly respected monk from his temple in central Bangkok.

Police say their investigation into the missing monk, Phra Thep Wachirapamok, uncovered a far‑reaching network of alleged blackmail, illicit relationships, and financial impropriety implicating senior members of the monkhood.

Authorities allege that a woman, Wilawan Emsawat, cultivated intimate relationships with multiple senior monks and then blackmailed them to keep those liaisons secret. When officers searched her residence earlier this month, they reportedly found mobile phones containing tens of thousands of compromising photos and videos not only of the missing monk but also of other high‑ranking religious figures.

“We checked her financial trail and found that it involves many temples,” said Jaroonkiat Pankaew, a senior officer at the Central Investigation Bureau, at a Tuesday press briefing. “After we seized her mobile, we checked and found that there are several monks involved, and several clips and Line chats.”

Wilawan, arrested on Tuesday, now faces charges of extortion, money laundering, and receiving stolen goods. In a televised interview, she admitted to relationships with two monks and a religious professor, claiming she “fell in love.” She also acknowledged receiving extravagant gifts, including a Mercedes‑Benz SLK200, large cash transfers, and even a personal bank card.

Investigators allege that around 385 million baht (about $11.9 million) flowed through her accounts in the past three years. Wilawan says she passed on some of that money to another monk she was romantically involved with.

The scandal has already led to the defrocking and dismissal of at least nine abbots and senior monks, while others are under investigation. One monk admitted to borrowing temple funds to assist Wilawan in a business venture, prompting charges of embezzlement and official misconduct.

“This is the first time I have seen a scandal like this,” said Paiwan Wannabud, a former monk turned LGBT influencer, noting that the case exposes deeper systemic issues.

Commentators in Thai media have echoed that sentiment. Writing in the Bangkok Post, Sanitsuda Ekachai criticized the “money, power and titles” that enable misconduct, warning that the scandal highlights a feudal-like culture within some temples. Thai broadcaster PBS even published an op‑ed thanking Wilawan for inadvertently exposing long‑hidden malpractices.

The revelations come as the Thai public already questions temple finances. Monks in Thailand receive food allowances but also rely on donations a system that can bring enormous sums to prominent figures. Earlier this month, an abbot at a Bangkok temple reported the theft of 10 million baht (about $229,000) in cash and gold from his private quarters.

In response, Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has ordered officials to explore tighter financial regulations for temples. The National Office of Buddhism said it will investigate monks regardless of rank and is considering reviving a draft law imposing criminal penalties for misconduct that damages the reputation of Buddhism.

On Tuesday, King Maha Vajiralongkorn issued a royal command rescinding previously granted ecclesiastical titles for dozens of senior monks, underscoring the gravity of the crisis.

Meanwhile, police have set up a dedicated Facebook page for the public to report monks engaging in misconduct, promising investigations “across the country.”

Although faith in Buddhism remains strong, Paiwan warns that public trust in the monkhood may take years to repair. “They were lost to their passion and their lust,” she said, reflecting a sentiment now echoing through Thailand’s temples and beyond.