Woman held for extorting Thai monks of over Rs 100 crore after sex. 80,000 photos, videos found

The police found that nine monks transferred money to the accused. (Representational image: Unsplash)

A woman has been arrested in Thailand for allegedly engaging in sexual relations with at least nine monks and using incriminating photos and videos to extort vast sums of money from them. The accused has been identified as "Ms Golf," the BBC reported. This incident has sent shockwaves through the country's revered Buddhist institution, which has faced a series of allegations ranging from sex offenses to drug trafficking in recent years.

The Thai police revealed that "Ms Golf" is believed to have received approximately 385 million baht (over Rs 100 crore) over the past three years through her alleged scheme. Investigators who searched her residence earlier this month made a startling discovery: more than 80,000 photos and videos reportedly used to blackmail the monks.

The case first came to the attention of authorities in mid-June, following the sudden departure of the head of a Bangkok monastery. Police investigations revealed that this abbot had allegedly been extorted by "Ms Golf." In one specific instance, the accused reportedly "had a relationship" with the monk in May 2024, later claiming to be pregnant with his child and demanding child support exceeding seven million baht (about Rs 1.8 crore), the BBC reported.

As the investigation deepened, authorities uncovered that other monks had similarly transferred money to "Ms Golf," a pattern police quickly identified as her modus operandi. Further financial tracing revealed that nearly all of the extorted money had been withdrawn, with a significant portion allegedly used for online gambling.

"Ms Golf" is now facing multiple serious charges, including extortion, money laundering, and receiving stolen goods. In a move to address broader concerns about misconduct within the clergy, police have also established a hotline for the public to report "misbehaving monks," signaling a concerted effort to restore faith in the Buddhist institution.