Some people have no limits. Law enforcement authorities in Thailand arrested Wilawan Amsawat, a woman in her thirties, on Tuesday on suspicion of extorting senior Buddhist monks. The arrest was made at her home in Nonthaburi Province, north of the capital Bangkok, after a comprehensive investigation that began last month.
The woman is suspected of deliberately seducing senior monks into sexual relationships, exploiting their status and violating their religious vows of celibacy. After establishing intimate relationships, she allegedly blackmailed the monks by demanding large sums of money in exchange for keeping the affair a secret.
The scandal shook Buddhist institutions in Thailand and captured public attention in recent weeks. The consequences were especially severe: At least nine abbots and senior monks involved in the scandal were stripped of their robes and expelled from the monkhood, according to a statement from the Central Investigation Bureau of the Royal Thai Police.
While scandals involving monks arise several times a year in Thailand, they usually do not involve senior members of the clergy. The current case sheds a troubling light on the large sums of money donated to temples controlled by abbots—something that starkly contradicts the modest lives they are supposed to lead according to the principles of their religion.
The police investigation revealed that Wilawan deliberately targeted senior monks for financial gain. Investigators found that several monks transferred large sums of money after Wilawan initiated romantic relationships with them. The police managed to track money transferred to her by a senior monk from a bank account belonging to his temple in northern Thailand.
The financial data revealed a shocking picture: Wilawan’s bank accounts received about 385 million baht (NIS 44 million) over the past three years. However, most of the funds were invested in online gambling sites, indicating that she squandered most of the money extorted from the monks on her addiction.
A search of Wilawan’s mobile phones revealed tens of thousands of photos and videos, as well as numerous chats indicating sexting with several monks. These materials were used as effective blackmail tools against the monks.
Jaronkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, revealed shocking details of the case that led to the opening of the investigation at a press conference in Bangkok. The investigation began after an abbot from a famous temple in Bangkok suddenly left the monkhood.
Jaronkiat explained that investigators discovered that the abbot was allegedly blackmailed by Wilawan over their romantic relationship. She had told the monk she was pregnant and asked him to pay 7.2 million baht (NIS 825,000) in financial support.
The police understood the gravity of the situation. Jaronkiat emphasized that this woman was dangerous and they needed to arrest her as soon as possible.
Most Thai monks belong to the Theravada sect, which requires them to be full monks and not touch women. Violating the rules of celibacy is considered a very serious offense in the eyes of the Buddhist religion and leads to immediate expulsion from the monkhood.
Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai ordered authorities to review and consider tightening existing laws concerning monks and temples. A special emphasis will be placed on transparency of temple finances, in order to restore faith in Buddhism, according to a statement from government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke.
The Central Investigation Bureau set up a special Facebook page for people to report monks behaving inappropriately. Jaronkiat announced the broad scope of the investigation, stating that they would investigate monks across the country and that he believed the ripple effects of this investigation would lead to many changes.
Wilawan Amsawat was arrested on serious charges including extortion, money laundering, and receiving stolen property. Since her arrest, she has not issued a statement, and it is unclear whether she has legal representation. In comments to the local media before her arrest, she acknowledged only one relationship and said she gave money to that monk.