Overview

• Wilawan Emsawat was arrested on July 15 in Nonthaburi and charged with extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen goods.
• Authorities allege she seduced senior Theravada monks into sexual relationships and used intimate digital material to blackmail them.
• Investigators traced roughly 385 million baht in transfers to her accounts over three years, most of which was lost to online gambling.
• At least nine abbots and senior monks have been defrocked and a nationwide inquiry into monk misconduct has been launched.
• Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has ordered reviews of monastic laws and temple financial oversight while authorities set up a public reporting hotline for misconduct.