A shocking scandal has rocked Thailand’s Buddhist community after a 35-year-old woman seduced and blackmailed over 20 monks, including high-ranking abbots, netting more than 380 million Thai baht (about S$14 million) in just three years.
The woman, Wilawan Emsawat, also known by her nickname “Miss Golf,” lured wealthy monks by posting attractive selfies online, then built intimate relationships with them. Once she gained their trust, she used explicit photos and sex videos to threaten and extort large sums of money.
Thai police arrested her on July 15 at a luxury home in Nonthaburi. She now faces at least four serious charges, including money laundering and coercing monks to abuse their authority. Authorities are also investigating where all the money went.
Thai Sister Hong
The Thai media dubbed her the “Thai Sister Hong,” likening her to the infamous “Nanjing Sister Hong” from China. Reports say she deliberately targeted rich monks, demanding huge sums as “hush money” in exchange for not leaking embarrassing content. She used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle.
However, when police arrested her, the glamorous online persona was nowhere to be seen. She appeared in a plain T-shirt and no makeup, looking like an ordinary auntie. Many netizens now suspect her photos were heavily edited.
Over 80,000 photos and 5,600 sex videos uncovered
During the raid, police found five phones containing over 80,000 photos and 5,600 videos, including clips of monks having sex with her while still wearing their robes. They also found more than ten sets of monk robes at the scene, leaving investigators stunned.
Although her bank account had seen 385 million Thai baht flow in over the past three years, only 8,000 Thai baht was left at the time of arrest. Authorities believe most of the money was withdrawn or lost through online gambling.
The scandal first surfaced in late June when one of her alleged victims, Phra Thep Wachirapamok — abbot of a prominent Bangkok temple — was exposed. He had reportedly met Wilawan multiple times in hotels. After refusing her demand for over 7 million baht in “child support” for the next 20 years, their sex tapes and chat recordings were leaked. He quickly left the monkhood and fled to Laos.
So far, at least nine monks have left the order due to this scandal. Thai media called the case “wilder than a TV drama” but said it should be seen as a wake-up call to clean up the Buddhist community and restore public confidence in the religion.
