A woman has been arrested in Thailand for supposedly having sexual relationships with at least nine monks and using compromising photos and videos to extort large amounts of money from them. The suspect has been named "Ms. Golf," according to the BBC. This incident has shaken the country's esteemed Buddhist institution, which has recently dealt with various allegations, from sexual offenses to drug trafficking.
Thai police stated that "Ms. Golf" is believed to have earned around 385 million baht (over Rs 100 crore) in the past three years through her alleged activities. Investigators who searched her home earlier this month uncovered more than 80,000 photos and videos reportedly used to blackmail the monks.
Authorities first noticed the case in mid-June after the sudden exit of the head of a Bangkok monastery. Police enquiries revealed that this abbot had allegedly been blackmailed by "Ms. Golf." In one instance, the accused reportedly "had a relationship" with the monk in May 2024, later claiming she was pregnant with his child and demanding child support exceeding seven million baht (about Rs 1.8 crore), as reported by the BBC.
As the probe progressed, officials discovered that other monks had likewise sent money to "Ms Golf," a behaviour police swiftly recognized as her typical method. Additional financial tracking showed that almost all of the extorted funds had been taken out, with a large amount reportedly used for online gambling.
"Ms Golf" is currently up against several serious allegations, such as extortion, money laundering, and receiving stolen property. To tackle wider issues of misconduct among clergy, police have set up a hotline for the public to report "misbehaving monks," indicating a dedicated effort to regain trust in the Buddhist community.
