Imagine a spiritual sanctuary shattered by scandal! In a shocking turn of events, a woman is accused of ensnaring and blackmailing Buddhist monks in Thailand, exposing a web of deceit that has left the nation stunned.

At least nine senior monks, including abbots, have been cast out of the monkhood, according to the Royal Thai Police Central Investigation Bureau. The woman at the center of this scandal, Wilawan Emsawat, allegedly seduced these monks, only to extort them for large sums of money, a staggering 385 million baht (£8.8m), which mostly fueled her gambling habits. These revelations have sent shockwaves through the Theravada sect, known for its strict celibacy rules.

Wilawan's arrest in Nonthaburi province unveiled tens of thousands of compromising photos and videos found on her phones, which were allegedly used to blackmail her victims. The scandal gained momentum after an abbot from a renowned Bangkok temple left the monkhood, allegedly due to Wilawan's blackmail threats, which included a false pregnancy claim and a demand for 7.2 million baht (£165,000).

This scandal has prompted Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai to call for a review of laws governing monks and temple finances to restore faith in Buddhism. The Central Investigation Bureau has also initiated a Facebook page for reporting misbehaving monks, indicating that this investigation could lead to significant changes.