The flight of 54-year-old Abbot Thepwachirapamok to Laos in late June unveiled a shocking scandal within Thailand's Buddhist clergy. The investigation into his disappearance led police to a woman known as "Golf". A search of her apartment in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi province, uncovered five phones containing over 80,000 private photos and 5,600 explicit videos involving Thepwachirapamok and at least 14 other monks.

Investigations revealed Golf's three-step scheme: she presented herself as a devout follower, cultivated close relationships with monks, and then seduced them, secretly recording their encounters for blackmail.

"Golf" and some of the monks she targeted. Photo: 163

On social media, the 34-year-old Golf cultivated a pious persona, posting photos of temple visits and interactions with senior monks, often expressing gratitude for their spiritual guidance. This tactic exploited the monks' vulnerability to flattery and attention.

Ajahn Thipradi, abbot of Phra Phutthachai Temple in Saraburi province, recalled: "In 2019, she messaged me privately on Facebook, claiming to be deeply moved by my sermons". A year later, she arrived at the temple in a brand-new Toyota Alphard, offering him the keys, saying: "This car is for you to use for your Dharma talks".

Police later discovered over 10 sets of saffron robes in Golf's Nonthaburi apartment – trophies from her conquests. Each robe was linked to explicit videos filmed in luxury hotels.

Golf employed two methods of extortion: playing the lovesick girlfriend or threatening to expose compromising photos. A late-night message from Golf to Abbot Thepwachirapamok included three intimate photos and a demand: "7.68 million baht for the baby's milk".

Golf. Photo: 163

Police confirmed Golf extorted 5.7 million baht from 15 monks. One victim, the deputy abbot of the Golden Buddha Temple (Traimit Wittayaram Worawihan), embezzled two million baht in temple funds to cover her gambling debts.

9/7/2025 became known online as the "day Buddhism crumbled" in Thailand, as six senior monks simultaneously disrobed. Cash and wigs were found in their meditation rooms.

Each monk's downfall was unique. The chief monk of Phitsanulok province used temple funds to buy Golf a Hermes bag, recording it as "donations for Buddha lamps". An assistant abbot in Chachoengsao justified golf outings with her as "garden maintenance expenses". The former abbot of Pratunam Temple was coerced into acknowledging a child he allegedly fathered with Golf, registering the child under her cousin's name.

Former deputy abbot of Sothon Temple, Ajahn Sariwiriya, disguised his payments to Golf as "alms", but the receiving account belonged to a Macau gambling website.

The revelations sparked outrage across Thailand. Protesters in Bangkok demanded life imprisonment for Golf, accusing her of "defaming Buddhism". Monasteries displayed banners warning against "temptresses who threaten enlightenment".

However, some younger people questioned: "Without her, who would know these monks were using temple funds to support their mistresses?".

Images of some of the monks found on Golf's phone. Photo: 163

Golf isn't the first to exploit monks. In May, a 70-year-old abbot in Nakhon Pathom was exposed for embezzling 300 million baht and giving it to a female follower named Gen, who gambled it away in a Cambodian casino.

In February, a monk in Rayong was blackmailed for 200,000 baht after screenshots of his explicit online chats were taken.

In 2023, a 78-year-old monk in Pattaya lost his 850,000 baht pension to an "online girlfriend", later revealed to be part of an international scam targeting elderly monks.

Bao Nhien (Via Kapook/163)