CHIANG RAI – The peaceful hills of Northern Thailand, usually a picture of serenity with temple rooftops glinting in the sunrise and monks reciting age-old prayers, have recently become the stage for a major storm.
Thailand’s Buddhist monkhood, long seen as an essential part of national life and culture, now faces intense scrutiny from within its ranks. Senior monks have become embroiled in a sex scandal, with ongoing cases of fraud and other crimes shaking the confidence of the Thai public.
Recent raids by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on temples, revealing financial corruption, have left millions questioning their trust in an institution many trusted for spiritual direction.
Scandal at the Heart of Thai Buddhism
The trouble began in June 2025, when Phra Thep Wachirapamok, the respected abbot at Wat Tri Thotsathep in Bangkok, vanished without warning. What seemed at first a strange disappearance soon exposed a hidden world of sexual liaisons, blackmail, and deception.
The case quickly grew, drawing national attention as investigators arrested Wilawan Emsawat, widely known in the media as “Ms. Golf”. On 15 July 2025, Emsawat was accused of seducing several senior monks, recording these encounters, then demanding large sums of money to keep their secrets.
Police searching Emsawat’s property found around 80,000 photos and videos, many showing intimate encounters with monks and abbots from some of the most well-respected temples.
Stored across multiple phones, this cache formed the basis for extortion that reportedly reached 385 million baht (about $11.9 million) over three years. Authorities traced these payments, mostly from temple accounts, and found that much had been spent on online gambling websites.
The consequences came quickly. At least 13 high-ranking monks, including nine abbots, lost their clerical status and were removed from the monkhood after a royal command on 22 July 2025. The Sangha Supreme Council announced a review of monastic rules. Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai also ordered an examination of laws around temples and their financial dealings, aiming to restore the trust of ordinary Thais.
Fraud and Police Raids Reveal Deeper Issues
This scandal is only part of a longer pattern. Multiple investigations have exposed fundraising abuses, with DSI officers finding evidence of widespread embezzlement during temple searches.
In July, a senior monk was accused of misdirecting hundreds of millions of baht in donations—money that was meant to build a temple complex that remains unfinished after ten years. Some of those funds were allegedly funnelled to a woman instead. Deputy police chief Jaroonkiat Pankaew pointed out that, while police cannot officially expel monks, they submit their findings for action from religious leaders.
Earlier this year, a Bangkok monk was charged with taking almost $10 million from temple finances and sending it to online betting operations.
Just two years earlier, police found suitcases of cash and gold stashed in the hills around Wat Pa Thammakhiri, where the abbot was later found to have stolen over $12 million in donations. Such cases highlight weak oversight of temple money, with devout followers’ contributions at risk of being misused.
Recent DSI crackdowns have zeroed in on these financial gaps. Officers have collected bank details, digital equipment, and donation records to track missing temple money. The National Office of Buddhism, responsible for monitoring temple accounts, has faced public criticism.
Though temples must declare their income each year, many abbots can manage donations at their discretion, and enforcement is patchy. The government is now pushing for compulsory donation transparency and tougher legal penalties for wrongdoers.
Faith Shaken: Thais Rethink Supporting Temples
In a country where more than 90% identify as Buddhist, and around 200,000 monks serve in nearly 40,000 temples, this string of scandals has deeply affected daily life and beliefs. Historically, monks have held a special place as guides in everyday rituals and moral instruction.
Now, many Thais are moving away from giving money to temples, choosing charities and hospitals instead. Mongkol Sudathip, a 33-year-old motorbike taxi driver in Chiang Rai, said, “I’m not involved with religion like I used to be. I feel it’s better to help the poor or support a hospital than trust the monks.”
A decline in trust can be seen in falling numbers of young men choosing to join the monkhood. At Wat Bowonniwet, once one of the busiest temples for ordinations, annual new monks have plummeted from nearly 100 before COVID-19 to just 26 in 2025.
Buddhism experts have commented that repeated scandals, especially those among senior monks, have shocked the nation. Danai Preechapermprasit said many people worry their donations are not used for spiritual work, but for personal benefit. Social media discussions reflect these changes. Debates about corrupt monks trend on platforms like X, with hashtags drawing calls for reform and even wider criticism of the institution.
Monks Misconduct Far from New: Decades of Scandal
The events of 2025 are not a one-off. The Thai monkhood has been hit by repeated cases of abuse of trust for decades, from sex and drugs to large-scale fraud. In the 1990s, Phra Yantra Amaro Bhikku was expelled after rumours of sexual affairs. The 2017 arrest of Wat Dhammakaya’s abbot for laundering $33 million forced Thais to confront cult-like practices inside temples.
In 2022, police arrested all four monks at a Phetchabun temple during a drug bust. Another high-profile figure, Phra Kato, was forced out after a recording revealed his affair with a model and attempts to pay for her silence.
There was widespread outrage in 2013, when Wirapol Sukphol was filmed relaxing on a private jet surrounded by luxury goods, leading to charges of financial and sex crimes. While often dismissed as isolated cases in the past, the scale of recent events suggests more deep-rooted problems.
Religious scholar Suraphot Thaweesak has argued that the strict, centralized system of the monkhood makes it hard for lower-ranking monks to challenge misbehaviour by their superiors. Junior monks fear losing their place if they speak out, meaning many abuses go unchecked.
Temples as Refuge for Criminals
The lack of proper checks when someone wishes to become a monk has created problems. Katewadee Kulabkaew, an academic, has noted that many men join temples as fugitives. In 2019, an abbot was found living under a new name after escaping a murder charge fifteen years before.
Monastic life in Thailand is often brief, with many young men joining for short periods. Without quality religious instruction and clear screening, it is easy for those with criminal pasts to blend in. Kulabkaew has said the Thai Sangha cannot handle these challenges due to poor discipline and a lack of proper controls.
Following the 2025 exposés, religious authorities and the government have promised action. The CIB has set up a Facebook page so the public can report alleged wrongdoing by monks. Jaroonkiat Pankaew has promised to investigate all Thai monks, predicting that real change could follow. The National Office of Buddhism has suggested new laws to make actions that damage Buddhism a criminal offence, including sexual misconduct.
The Sangha Supreme Council is working on rules that could introduce stronger controls over entering the monkhood and managing temple finances. One senior MP has called for mandatory donation disclosures and for monk misbehaviour to be treated as a criminal act within three months. Some critics are worried these measures do not go far enough, as the hierarchy continues to shield senior monks.
The Road Ahead: Can Trust in Monks Be Rebuilt?
The debate has also shifted to the treatment of women. Bangkok Post columnist Sanitsuda Ekachai noted proposals to prosecute women who have affairs with monks are unfair and one-sided—since monks break their vows, focusing only on women is not just. She has called the focus back onto tackling corruption and hypocrisy among the clergy.
With morning offerings still taking place in temples across Chiang Rai, the recent scandals have left a sombre mood. Some, like 52-year-old security guard Camphun Parimiphut, say they still believe in Buddhist values if not the clergy themselves. “You can lose trust in monks,” Parimiphut told AFP, “but Buddhist teachings remain strong.”
Change will take time. The hierarchical nature of the Sangha and its deep roots in Thai culture and politics make major reforms difficult. But loud calls from the public and moves by the government suggest a turning point could be near.
Many Thais now hope clearer rules, transparency, and renewed commitment to true Buddhist values will restore faith. Until then, the orange robes that once symbolized purity and wisdom will carry a heavy stain in the eyes of much of the public.
