India, July 16 -- A Thai woman has been arrested for allegedly seducing several senior Buddhist monks and blackmailing them for money with their intimate material.

The accused, Wilawan Emsawat, who is believed to be in her mid-30s, was arrested at her home in Bangkok's Nonthaburi province.

As a result of the scandal, at least nine abbots and senior monks involved in the scandal have been disrobed and cast out of the monkhood, the Royal Thai Police Central Investigation Bureau said.

Authorities say she targeted high-ranking monks, lured them into sexual relationships, and then demanded large payouts to keep their affairs secret, the AP news agency reported.

The monks allegedly diverted money from temple accounts to meet Wilawan's finan...