Thai police have arrested a woman accused of blackmailing Buddhist monks using explicit photos and videos taken during alleged sexual encounters. Authorities say the woman, known publicly as “Ms Golf,” extorted nearly 385 million baht (approximately $11.9 million) over the past three years.
At a press conference on Tuesday, police revealed that Ms Golf was involved with at least nine monks, and used thousands of compromising images and videos to demand large sums of money in return for silence. Investigators discovered over 80,000 media files on her seized devices, believed to be central to the blackmail scheme.
The case first came to light in June 2025, when an abbot in Bangkok abruptly left the monkhood under mysterious circumstances. Authorities later discovered he had been threatened with exposure by Ms Golf, who claimed to be pregnant by him and demanded over seven million baht in child support.
As the investigation expanded, police found that multiple monks had similarly been extorted, revealing what officials described as a “pattern” of manipulation. Authorities also reported that much of the extorted money had been quickly withdrawn and linked to online gambling activities.
Ms Golf now faces multiple charges, including extortion, money laundering, and receiving stolen property.
Wider Impact on Thai Buddhism
The scandal has once again brought scrutiny to Thailand’s revered but increasingly embattled Buddhist institution. In response, the Sangha Supreme Council, the top governing body for Buddhism in Thailand, has announced plans to establish a special committee to review monastic regulations and strengthen discipline.
The government is also pushing for new legislation to introduce harsher penalties for monks who violate their religious code, including fines and possible jail terms.
This week, King Vajiralongkorn revoked royal titles recently conferred on 81 monks, citing ongoing misconduct that had “caused Buddhists to suffer greatly in their minds.”
A Pattern of Misconduct
While Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist nation—over 90% of its population identify with the religion—its monastic order has faced repeated controversies in recent years.
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In 2017, high-profile monk Wirapol Sukphol was convicted of sex crimes, fraud, and money laundering after living a luxurious, jet-setting lifestyle.
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In 2022, a temple in northern Thailand was left without clergy after all four monks were arrested in a drug raid.
Despite calls for reform, experts argue that the strict hierarchy and lack of accountability within the Thai Sangha make systemic change difficult. The government has now opened a public hotline for reporting misconduct among monks, in hopes of addressing long-standing concerns about transparency and discipline within the monastic community.
