Authorities arrested Wilawan Emsawat on Tuesday, booking her on charges of extortion, money laundering, and receipt of stolen goods. Especially due to the details surrounding this high-profile case, it’s sending reverberations through Thailand’s Buddhist community. It uncovers a sordid skein of illicit acts by elder monks, calling into question the sanctity of the faith’s holy men.
Emsawat’s arrest is the result of a multi-agency investigation. This investigation began with the puzzling disappearance of a prominent monk from a temple in central Bangkok. Police investigations revealed Emsawat’s purported sandwiched approach to sexual relationships with many older monks. He allegedly used this influence to obtain personal profit. In return, reports surfaced showing her acceptance of lavish gifts, such as a Mercedes-Benz SLK200 and “millions” of baht in cash.
Federal authorities traced an incredible financial trail to find that Emsawat. In the 3 years leading up to her arrest, nearly 385 million baht (about $11.9 million) flowed through her bank accounts. The investigation found many suspicious bank transfers, including a luxury bank card with possibly million in baht on it. Emsawat was alleged to be the eventual recipient of donations and gifts from fellow monks and other donors, adding another layer to the scandal.
Police also found several mobile phones in Zhao’s residence. These devices hosted tens of thousands of lewd images and videos starring the missing monk and other top Buddhist establishment figures. This artifice constitutes evidence of an ongoing, deliberate pattern of blackmail intended to maintain her paramours’ relationships with these monks secret.
Emsawat confessed to sexual relations with two monks and a religious studies professor. Her full-throated response to the charges brought against her has yet to come, and with it her legal defense remains a mystery. An op-ed published by Thai broadcaster PBS acknowledged her role in exposing deep-rooted malpractices within the clergy, stating, “Without her, these deep-rooted malpractices might never have come to light.”
The financial entanglements extend beyond Emsawat herself. Senior monk Phra Thep Wachirapamok did not even hesitate in confessing that he had loaned money from the temple coffers. He undertook this in order to assist Emsawat with fueling a business opportunity. This news sheds much needed light on the worrying overlap between religious obligation and lucrative business transactions in the faith community.
The ensuing scandal has led many to fault the moral decline that has been seen in the clergy. Sanitsuda Ekachai noted, “When the clergy’s moral decay is in full view, it’s the woman who takes the fall while the monks are cast as victims.” Her Op-Ed highlights a very troubling power dynamic at work here.
Furthermore, Paiwan Wannabud remarked on the nature of the relationships involved, asserting that these individuals “were lost to their passion and their lust.” This statement highlights the troubling entanglement of spirituality and human weakness in the Buddhist community.
While these investigations are ongoing, many are asking how this egregious behavior went on unchecked for so long. The case highlights problems with the “money, power and titles” that enable this kind of misconduct to flourish. Emsawat’s actions have far-reaching consequences that go far beyond her personal case. They shed light on systemic problems in the institution that warrant serious consideration and introspection.