Thailand’s revered Buddhist religious community is reeling as one of the biggest scandals in its modern history unfolds, implicating at least 19 monks in a sweeping saga of sex, money, and blackmail centered around a woman dubbed “Miss Golf.”
The scandal erupted earlier this year when allegations surfaced that Phra Kru Yaem, the abbot of Wat Rai Khing in Nakhon Pathom province, had been blackmailed by a woman named “Gen.” She allegedly threatened him with compromising video clips and extorted millions of baht, reportedly to fund her online gambling habits. The revelations forced Phra Kru Yaem to disrobe and triggered an investigation into suspicious financial transactions between temple accounts and private accounts.
However, the investigation soon took a dramatic turn as it exposed links to another woman — Seeka “Miss Golf” — who has been at the center of the growing scandal. Miss Golf is accused of engaging in sexual relationships with monks and receiving substantial sums of money from them, some allegedly drawn from temple donations.
On July 9, infamously dubbed “Big Monk Disrobing Day,” six monks were forced to leave the monkhood in a single day. They were among senior monks and deputy abbots from temples across central and eastern Thailand. Their disrobings followed serious evidence of improper relationships with Miss Golf, marking an unprecedented shakeup in the religious hierarchy.
Police, led by Deputy Commander Pol. Lt. Gen. Charoonkiat Pankaew of the Central Investigation Bureau, uncovered around 80,000 files of images and videos on Miss Golf’s phone documenting her relationships with various monks. The footage and financial trails have provided significant evidence in the ongoing investigation.
Miss Golf, who has become a controversial figure on Thai social media, admitted during interviews and police interrogations that she targeted wealthy and influential monks. She claimed to have used money from her online gambling winnings, once scoring as much as 10 million baht in a single session. While she insisted that in some cases she was simply giving money as a girlfriend rather than receiving bribes, police remain skeptical.
Miss Golf confessed to having intimate relationships with approximately eight monks, while maintaining that her dealings with another five or six were purely spiritual or involved loans. Nonetheless, investigators say financial records reveal money transfers between Miss Golf and at least 19 monks from 18 temples.
Deputy Commander Charoonkiat cautioned monks across Thailand to remain vigilant against women who might approach them under the guise of wealthy benefactors or devoted followers, warning that some could be criminals seeking to exploit religious figures.
“This case is not intended to tarnish Buddhism,” he said. “Our investigation aims to preserve the integrity of religious institutions and ensure monks uphold the precepts.”
The scandal has shocked Thailand’s predominantly Buddhist population and sparked calls for stronger oversight and accountability within temples. As investigations continue, many Thais are left grappling with how such misconduct could infiltrate the very institutions they trust for moral and spiritual guidance.
