By Ayomide Otitoju
Thailand’s revered Buddhist monkhood is under fire following a sex extortion scandal involving at least 11 monks and a woman accused of secretly filming their encounters and demanding hush money.
Police say the monks, who violated their vows of celibacy, paid nearly $12 million from temple donations meant to earn spiritual merit. The scandal has ignited public anger, questioning the integrity of the clergy and their immunity from scrutiny.
In response, King Maha Vajiralongkorn revoked invitations for over 80 monks to his upcoming 73rd birthday celebration, citing “inappropriate behaviour that caused mental distress among the Thai people.”
The National Office of Buddhism pledged to “restore public trust” through a sweeping police investigation. Meanwhile, public faith is shaken.
“You can lose faith in monks, but never in Buddhist teachings,” said Camphun Parimiphut, a 52-year-old devotee.
This is the latest in a string of misconduct cases, including multimillion-dollar embezzlement and gambling scandals, prompting lawmakers to push for tighter oversight, including mandatory donation disclosures and criminal penalties for erring monks.
