Reverence for the saffron-robed Buddhist monkhood is deeply woven into Thai society, but a sex extortion scandal has shaken the clergy and left the devout questioning their faith.
Thai police this week arrested a woman accused of sleeping with at least 11 monks in violation of their vows of celibacy, before blackmailing them with thousands of secretly taken photos of their encounters.
Reports indicate the monks paid nearly $12 million, funnelling donations from laypeople seeking merit and better reincarnation prospects out of their monasteries to the alleged blackmailer.
