Thai woman, 35, arrested for having sex with monks & then blackmailing them

A 35-year-old Thai woman was arrested after a sex scandal that has rocked Thailand was uncovered.

Thai media reported that the woman, Wilawan Emsawat, was arrested and charged with supporting a monk's embezzlement of temple funds, laundering money, and receiving stolen goods.

She is currently being detained in Bangkok.

Emsawat allegedly had sex with nine monks, eight of whom have since left monkhood.

The scandal came to light when an abbot left the monkhood allegedly after being blackmailed by Emsawat over their relationship.

Bangkok Post reported that she had told the abbot she was pregnant and had asked for a payment of 7.2 million baht (S$290,000) in financial assistance.

The pregnancy turned out to be false.

According to Khaosod, the police said Esmawat deliberately targeted senior monks for financial gain, eventually having them transfer large amounts of money to her.

She allegedly received around 385 million baht ($15.27 million) over the past three years, but had spent most of it on online gambling.

According to local media, Jaroonkiat Pankaew, the Central Investigation Bureau deputy commissioner, said "this woman is dangerous and we need to arrest her as soon as possible".

Emsawat was the wife of a local politician, but he had left her after learning of her other lovers.

She also reportedly had pictures of monks on the walls of their home.

Image from Matichon