Bangkok:  A woman in Thailand has been arrested for allegedly luring multiple Buddhist monks, including senior abbots, into sexual relationships and then extorting them to keep the affairs secret, a scandal that has shaken the country’s religious institutions.

Wilawan Emsawat, believed to be in her mid-30s, was taken into custody on Tuesday at her residence in Nonthaburi province, just north of Bangkok. She faces charges of extortion, money laundering, and receiving stolen goods, according to Thailand's Royal Central Investigation Bureau.

The investigation revealed that Wilawan allegedly received large money transfers from at least one senior monk, with funds traced back to a bank account belonging to a temple in northern Thailand.

The local media reported that a search of her mobile phones revealed tens of thousands of photos and videos, as well as numerous chat logs indicating intimacy with several monks, many of which could be used for blackmail.

The scandal has led to the disrobing of at least nine monks, including several abbots, who were cast out of the monkhood for violating the strict celibacy rules central to the Buddhist monastic code.

Before her arrest, Wilawan acknowledged having had a relationship with one monk and claimed to have given him money. She has not issued any statement since being taken into custody, and it remains unclear whether she has secured legal counsel.

While occasional misconduct involving monks is not uncommon in Thailand, such cases rarely reach the higher echelons of the clergy.

Wilawan deliberately targeted senior monks for financial gain, police said, noting they found several monks had transferred large amounts of money after Wilawan initiated romantic relationships with them.

Wilawan’s bank accounts received around 385 million baht (over Rs 100 crore) in the past three years, but most of the funds were spent on online gambling websites, police said.

Jaroonkiat Pankaew, a Central Investigation Bureau deputy commissioner, said the investigation began last month after an abbot of a famous temple in Bangkok abruptly left the monkhood.

Investigators found the abbot had allegedly been blackmailed by Wilawan over their romantic relationship. She told the monk that she was pregnant and asked him to pay 7.2 million baht ($222,000) in financial assistance, Jaroonkiat said at a news conference in Bangkok on Tuesday.

Police believed “this woman is dangerous and we needed to arrest her as soon as possible,” Jaroonkiat said.

Thai monks are largely members of the Theravada sect, which requires them to be celibate and refrain from even touching a woman.

Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai ordered authorities to review and consider tightening existing laws related to monks and temples, especially the transparency of temple finances, to restore faith in Buddhism, government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub said Tuesday.

The Central Investigation Bureau has set up a Facebook page for people to report monks who misbehave, Jaroonkiat said.

“We will investigate monks across the country,” he said. “I believe that the ripple effects of this investigation will lead to a lot of changes.”