Overview

• Wilawan Emsawat is in custody on extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen goods charges following her arrest in Nonthaburi province.
• Police said most of the 385 million baht traced to her bank accounts over three years was spent on online gambling platforms.
• Authorities seized tens of thousands of photos, videos and chat logs from her phones that were used to blackmail senior clergy.
• At least nine abbots and senior monks have been formally disrobed for violating monastic celibacy rules.
• The government has set up a public Facebook page for reporting monk misconduct and the acting prime minister has ordered a review of temple financial regulations.