A Thai woman sparked outrage for allegedly seducing high-ranking Buddhist monks in a sex scandal that has shaken the country's monastic order.

Wirawan Emsawat, also known as 'Sika Golf', 35, was said to have tempted abstaining senior monks into illicit affairs in order to gain access to temple funds, which she used for her online gambling habit.

Police raided her home in Bangkok on July 4 while investigating the disappearance of a monk named Arch, who suddenly went missing from the Wat Tri Thotsathep temple in the capital. Authorities suspected he was involved in fraud or love affairs before learning he had a relationship with Wirawan.

A sweep of the woman's house found a staggering 80,000 pornographic files stored in five mobile phones showing Wirawan in explicit acts with top-ranking monks and politicians.

Footage shows one of the monks still wearing his saffron robes as he cuddled up to the woman as she stroked his shaved head. Another clip shows a monk putting on clothes, apparently after having sex with her.

Wirawan allegedly admitted she had been coercing or blackmailing the men for money, and had children with some of them.

Officials said she was being investigated for allegedly misappropriating temple funds and extortion.

Police Major General Charoonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Cybercrime Investigation Bureau, said more than 12 Buddhist temples were under scrutiny following the scandal.

At least eight monks have been identified, and more are expected to be implicated as cops sift through the thousands of sex videos on Wirawan's phones.

The officer said: 'The scandals required further police investigation and action to ensure that the monastic institution remains composed solely of monks who uphold moral discipline.

'We have no intention of undermining Buddhism. However, we urge monks across the country to exercise caution when taking part in religious activities that involve laywomen.

'These individuals may present themselves as generous donors, wealthy benefactors or socialites, yet some may in fact be fraudsters seeking to gain the monks' trust, engaging them in conversations via Line or telephone and secretly recording clips.'

The Sangha Supreme Council, the highest governing Buddhist body in Thailand, said monastic regulations were being reviewed as they were no longer suitable for current cases.

Acting secretary Chatchapol Chaiyaporn said: 'A new special committee will be formed to safeguard Buddhism, review the Sangha Act and other related laws, and enhance public communication. The proposal will be submitted to the Supreme Patriarch for approval.'

He added that loopholes in monastic law need to be addressed in order to restore public trust.

Ittiporn Chan-iam, director of the National Office of Buddhism, said the office was proposing jail terms of up to seven years and a fine of up to 140,000 baht (3,200 GBP) for monks expelled from the order over serious monastic violations.

The same penalties would apply to laypeople who knowingly engage in sexual acts with Buddhist monks.

The proposed sanctions will be sent to Suchart Tancharoen of the Prime Minister's Office, and are subject to approval by the Sangha Supreme Council.

Buddhist monks take a vow of celibacy to detach themselves from worldly desires, which are seen as obstacles to spiritual enlightenment.

However, the Thai clergy have faced numerous sex scandals over the years, eroding public trust in the religious establishment.

(1 GBP = 43.6 THB)