Report Thai Monk Scandal Spurs Demand for Religious Accountability

[snoop1130]

For reference only | Picture courtesy of Caleb Quinley

 

Recently, Thailand's Buddhist community has been shaken by a scandal involving senior monks, revealing deep-seated issues within the religious sector. At least eleven high-ranking monks, including the revered abbot of Wat Tri Thotsathep Worawihan, have been defrocked following allegations of romantic liaisons with a woman named Wilawan “Sika Golf” Emsawat.

 

Police investigations uncovered thousands of explicit images and videos on Golf’s phone, reportedly showing monks engaged in sexual acts while still in their robes. These discoveries have not only shocked the nation but also raised urgent questions about the accountability and integrity of the monkhood, which has long been held in high regard.

 

The Role of Wealth in the Scandal

 

The scandal underscores a significant problem within the religious sector: the accumulation of wealth by temples and senior monks, often without oversight. According to Thanthip Srisuwannaket, a researcher at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), temples with substantial financial holdings are increasingly vulnerable to exploitation and blackmail.

 

“The richer the temple, the bigger the target,” Thanthip noted, pointing out that temples lack a checks-and-balances system. Temples have risen from 41,000 in 2019 to 44,000 in 2023, illustrating growth that is not matched by financial oversight.

 

Prayut Prathetsena, vice-president of the Dharma Army Lawyers Foundation, highlighted how monks can earn considerably from private ceremonies, accumulating wealth tax-free. It's not uncommon for senior monks to have personal accounts reaching 50 million baht.

 

Unregulated Wealth and Exploitation

 

The lack of regulation in how temples manage their finances has made them prime targets for exploitation. Devotees donate freely, and there are no laws preventing monks from owning assets. Temples generate income through various activities such as car parking, cremations, and sales, often marked up significantly from production costs.

 

Prayuth, an expert in Thai religious affairs, asserts that the system itself is at fault for allowing this unchecked growth of wealth. The lack of a transparent financial management system within temples leads to vulnerabilities, enabling scammers to exploit both monks and devotees. Despite existing under the Sangha Act, temples handle finances independently with little standardisation or oversight, making it too easy for financial irregularities to occur.

 

Reforming the System for Transparency

 

With the recent scandal piling pressure on religious authorities, reforming the monkhood’s financial management systems is now seen as urgent. Thanthip calls for giving the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) greater authority to scrutinise temple finances. Suggested reforms include meticulous record-keeping and employing professional accountants if necessary. The National Office of Buddhism is now advocating for legislation that would enforce greater transparency and stricter penalties for misconduct.

 

Sri Lanka serves as an example of effective religious financial oversight, where temple management must submit financial records biannually, under a system monitored by the government. Thailand could adapt similar measures to ensure transparency and accountability.

 

Legislative Action and Future Steps

 

NOB director Inthaporn Jan-iam reports that action is underway to prevent further erosion of public faith in Buddhism. There is a pressing need to revise laws like the Sangha Act, which has been in effect for over 50 years without significant updates to address current issues. Proposed new legislation would tighten regulation, including enforcing harsh penalties for monks who break vows of celibacy or make fraudulent claims. The new laws would also hold accountable anyone who entices monks into misconduct.

 

If implemented, these reforms could usher in a new era of accountability and transparency in Thailand’s religious sector, helping restore public trust and faith in Buddhism. The scandal serves as a clarion call for change, aiming to preserve the integrity of the monkhood and protect it from future vulnerabilities. Ultimately, these events signify a pivotal moment in Thai Buddhism, catalysing essential reforms to secure its future.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS 2025-07-17

 

 

[newbee2022]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

For reference only | Picture courtesy of Caleb Quinley

 

Recently, Thailand's Buddhist community has been shaken by a scandal involving senior monks, revealing deep-seated issues within the religious sector. At least eleven high-ranking monks, including the revered abbot of Wat Tri Thotsathep Worawihan, have been defrocked following allegations of romantic liaisons with a woman named Wilawan “Sika Golf” Emsawat.

 

Police investigations uncovered thousands of explicit images and videos on Golf’s phone, reportedly showing monks engaged in sexual acts while still in their robes. These discoveries have not only shocked the nation but also raised urgent questions about the accountability and integrity of the monkhood, which has long been held in high regard.

 

The Role of Wealth in the Scandal

 

The scandal underscores a significant problem within the religious sector: the accumulation of wealth by temples and senior monks, often without oversight. According to Thanthip Srisuwannaket, a researcher at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), temples with substantial financial holdings are increasingly vulnerable to exploitation and blackmail.

 

“The richer the temple, the bigger the target,” Thanthip noted, pointing out that temples lack a checks-and-balances system. Temples have risen from 41,000 in 2019 to 44,000 in 2023, illustrating growth that is not matched by financial oversight.

 

Prayut Prathetsena, vice-president of the Dharma Army Lawyers Foundation, highlighted how monks can earn considerably from private ceremonies, accumulating wealth tax-free. It's not uncommon for senior monks to have personal accounts reaching 50 million baht.

 

Unregulated Wealth and Exploitation

 

The lack of regulation in how temples manage their finances has made them prime targets for exploitation. Devotees donate freely, and there are no laws preventing monks from owning assets. Temples generate income through various activities such as car parking, cremations, and sales, often marked up significantly from production costs.

 

Prayuth, an expert in Thai religious affairs, asserts that the system itself is at fault for allowing this unchecked growth of wealth. The lack of a transparent financial management system within temples leads to vulnerabilities, enabling scammers to exploit both monks and devotees. Despite existing under the Sangha Act, temples handle finances independently with little standardisation or oversight, making it too easy for financial irregularities to occur.

 

Reforming the System for Transparency

 

With the recent scandal piling pressure on religious authorities, reforming the monkhood’s financial management systems is now seen as urgent. Thanthip calls for giving the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) greater authority to scrutinise temple finances. Suggested reforms include meticulous record-keeping and employing professional accountants if necessary. The National Office of Buddhism is now advocating for legislation that would enforce greater transparency and stricter penalties for misconduct.

 

Sri Lanka serves as an example of effective religious financial oversight, where temple management must submit financial records biannually, under a system monitored by the government. Thailand could adapt similar measures to ensure transparency and accountability.

 

Legislative Action and Future Steps

 

NOB director Inthaporn Jan-iam reports that action is underway to prevent further erosion of public faith in Buddhism. There is a pressing need to revise laws like the Sangha Act, which has been in effect for over 50 years without significant updates to address current issues. Proposed new legislation would tighten regulation, including enforcing harsh penalties for monks who break vows of celibacy or make fraudulent claims. The new laws would also hold accountable anyone who entices monks into misconduct.

 

If implemented, these reforms could usher in a new era of accountability and transparency in Thailand’s religious sector, helping restore public trust and faith in Buddhism. The scandal serves as a clarion call for change, aiming to preserve the integrity of the monkhood and protect it from future vulnerabilities. Ultimately, these events signify a pivotal moment in Thai Buddhism, catalysing essential reforms to secure its future.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS 2025-07-17

 

 

If only serving for their beliefs, they should not have these huge PRIVATE loads of cash.

All money should go to the temple but not any person.

Financial transactions should be supervised.

However, to be a monk means getting wealthy without work.

Living off the fat of the land.

[quake]

Accountability, in Thailand. 

[damian]

The temple anthem (courtesy Pink Floyd):

 

Money, get away
Get a good job with more pay, and you're okay
Money, it's a gas
Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash

New car, caviar, four-star daydream
Think I'll buy me a football team

Money, get back
I'm alright, Jack, keep your hands off of my stack
Money, it's a hit
Don't give me that do goody-good bullsh!t

I'm in the hi-fidelity first class travelling set
And I think I need a Learjet

Money, it's a crime
Share it fairly, but don't take a slice of my pie
Money, so they say
Is the root of all evil today
 

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

These discoveries have not only shocked the nation but also raised urgent questions about the accountability and integrity of the monkhood, which has long been held in high regard.

Always some bad apples, the problem is kicking them out.

[Nickcage49]

My question is, why do these temples have so much money? They're already made of gold!

[Jack Hammer]

Golf’s mantra every morning, bonk a monk, bonk a monk, bonk a monk 

[newbee2022]

8 minutes ago, damian said:

The temple anthem (courtesy Pink Floyd):

 

Money, get away
Get a good job with more pay, and you're okay
Money, it's a gas
Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash

New car, caviar, four-star daydream
Think I'll buy me a football team

Money, get back
I'm alright, Jack, keep your hands off of my stack
Money, it's a hit
Don't give me that do goody-good bullsh!t

I'm in the hi-fidelity first class travelling set
And I think I need a Learjet

Money, it's a crime
Share it fairly, but don't take a slice of my pie
Money, so they say
Is the root of all evil today
 

And your summary is?😳

[damian]

15 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

And your summary is?😳

The last line of the song.

[newbee2022]

2 minutes ago, damian said:

The last line of the song.

Well, and you want to live without money? Did you try? I won't 

[thailand49]

Scam religion!  

[Srikcir]

46 minutes ago, Nickcage49 said:

My question is, why do these temples have so much money? They're already made of gold!

Billions of baht comes directly from the Thai government.

[Srikcir]

55 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Always some bad apples, the problem is kicking them out.

The religion’s governing body in Thailand, the Supreme Sangha Council, can crack down on monk wrongdoing. 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/15/thailand-buddhist-monks-bad-behaviour-crackdown

What is it doing now and how well?

From https://www.ibcworld.org/home/diaspora/Thailand :

• "In Thailand, the Buddhist government (represented by a Buddhist Head of State) recognizes the Sangha Supreme Council (Mahathera Samakhom) as the highest governing body for Buddhism. The Sangha Supreme Council is responsible for overseeing the administration and regulation of the Buddhist monastic community (Sangha) in Thailand. It consists of senior monks from the Theravada tradition and plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and standards of Buddhist monastic life in the country. (my italics)
• Additionally, the Department of Religious Affairs within the Ministry of Culture oversees Buddhist affairs and works in collaboration with various Buddhist organizations and institutions to promote and support Buddhism in Thailand."

By government recognition and oversight, the SSC appears to be essentially an extension of the government. So presumably where does authority ultimately rest?

[quake]

41 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

Scam religion!  

 

In Thailand,  yes.

Else where not so much.

[Will B Good]

So the private jets never prompted any concerns, but now they are getting stressy over a few of them playing away.....also having ignored the billions robbed from the temples????

[Lucky Bones]

I used google translate to seek the Thai equivalent for "accountability."

Computer says no.🙃🙃