Overview

• Police arrested Wilawan Emsawat in Nonthaburi province on July 15, charging her with extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen goods.
• Investigators traced more than 385 million baht transferred from temple accounts to her, with most funds reportedly spent on online gambling.
• Authorities seized tens of thousands of explicit photos, videos and chat logs from her devices that formed the basis for blackmail.
• At least nine senior monks and abbots have been defrocked following inquiries into breaches of monastic celibacy vows.
• Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai ordered a review of temple finance regulations as a Facebook tip line was opened for reporting monk misconduct.