A woman accused of blackmailing Thai Buddhist monks using sex tapes has been arrested, sparking national outrage and official investigations.
Police said the suspect, identified only by her nickname “Ms Golf,” had sexual relations with at least nine monks and secretly recorded the encounters. Over the past three years, she allegedly used these photos and videos to extort money from the monks, collecting about 385 million baht (roughly $11.9 million or £8.8 million).
Authorities made the announcement during a press conference on Tuesday, revealing that when they searched Ms Golf’s home earlier this month, they discovered over 80,000 images and video files stored on her devices—used in the blackmail scheme.
The case came to light in mid-June 2025, after an abbot in Bangkok suddenly left the monkhood under mysterious circumstances. Police investigations revealed that the monk had been extorted by Ms Golf, who claimed to be pregnant with his child and demanded more than seven million baht in child support.
Further investigations uncovered a pattern. Several other monks had transferred large sums of money to Ms Golf under similar threats. Police believe this was her usual method of extortion. They also revealed that a significant portion of the money she received had already been withdrawn, and part of it was spent on online gambling.
This scandal is the latest in a series of troubling incidents involving monks in Thailand, including reports of sexual misconduct and drug-related offenses. With over 90% of Thais identifying as Buddhist, monks are traditionally held in high regard, and the scandal has deeply shaken public trust.
In response, Thailand’s Sangha Supreme Council, the top Buddhist authority, announced plans to form a special committee to review and tighten monastic regulations. The Thai government is also considering tougher penalties, including fines and jail time, for monks found guilty of breaking the monastic code.
Meanwhile, King Vajiralongkorn revoked a royal order issued in June that had granted higher titles to 81 monks, citing the recent misconduct as damaging to public faith in Buddhism.
The police have launched a hotline for the public to report misconduct by monks as part of a broader effort to clean up the image of Thailand’s monastic community.
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