The arrested woman has had sex with at least nine monks, the police stated at a press conference on Tuesday. Thereafter, she has pressed them for money with the help of intimate photos and videos.
Over a period of three years, she is believed to have gotten hold of around 385 million baht, equivalent to over 115 million kronor. Parts of the money she is said to have gambled away, reports BBC.
During a house search, the police found more than 80,000 photos and videos used for extortion purposes. The woman is now being investigated for several crimes, including extortion and money laundering.
The scandal is the latest to shake Thailand's respected Buddhist institutions, which in recent years have been plagued by allegations of sex crimes and drug-dealing monks.
