MING YI PASSPORT IMPOUNDED

[Puffer_fish]

PROBE INTO REN CI'S FINANCES

Monk's passport impounded

Charity's long-time chief cannot leave the country now

By Ho Ai Li & Theresa Tan

 

THE passport of Ren Ci Hospital's long-time chief, the Venerable Ming Yi, has been impounded by the authorities.

The move comes after the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) was called in on Monday to investigate financial irregularities in the accounts of the Ren Ci Hospital and Medicare Centre.

 

At the heart of the issue are questionable loans made by the hospital, amounting to several million dollars.

 

Some of the loans were given to companies with links to the Venerable Ming Yi.

 

Sources told The Straits Times that the monk's passport had been held.

 

However, calls to his phone by The Straits Times yesterday went unanswered. Also, he was not seen last night at the Foo Hai Ch'an Monastery in Geylang East, where he is the abbot.

 

With his passport impounded, the monk, who reportedly travels at least once a month to fulfil overseas commitments, cannot leave the country.

 

He heads temples in Malaysia and Hong Kong and often attends Buddhist conferences overseas.

 

Lawyers interviewed said that it was not unusual for people 'deeply involved' in CAD investigations to have their passports impounded.

 

The Health Ministry launched a probe into Ren Ci's books last November. This week, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan told reporters that the charity had been unable to explain some of its financial transactions satisfactorily, so the CAD was called in.

 

Besides Ren Ci and the Foo Hai Ch'an Monastery, the Venerable Ming Yi also heads the Marine Parade Foo Hai Elderly Lodge, a day-care centre for old folk.

 

When contacted last night, Ren Ci chairman Chua Thian Poh said that he did not know about the impounding of the Venerable Ming Yi's passport and declined comment.

 

hoaili@sph.com.sg

 

theresat@sph.com.sg

[Albeniz]

I hope this is not another Durai case.

Otherwise, my impression about charity would be totally shattered.

 

BTW, did he live in the same condo as you?

[Maersk1]

my question is that, if Venerable Ming Yi was really found guilty with charged....can he be jailed ???

[Zanter]

There has been rumors about him for sometime already. From this incident we should learn to look beyond the surface, look beyond the image of illusions and see the heart of the matter.

 

Monks should not crave luxury as its goes against the very grains of the teachings of Buddha. There can be no excuse of monks wearing rolexes & driving sport/luxury cars. These people are pretenders. Using their position of faith to further their own personal ambitions and are a disgrace to their religion.

 

The lure of the temptation of wealth is not restricted to Buddism but in fact some Christian leaders live the life of almost embrassing luxury forgetting the teachings of Christ who said It is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom or Heaven, than a camel to enter the eye of a needle.

[Contax]

i second the thought.

personally have seen many monks in those situation.

People respect them only because they are wearing the robes ,that's all .

[Kianbeng]

why not?

[Albeniz]

  Quote

my question is that, if Venerable Ming Yi was really found guilty with charged....can he be jailed ???

 

Disgraced priest Father Joachim Kang has been jailed for seven years.

Nobody, even religious leader, can escape from the Law if really found guilty.

[Guest Julio369]

UPZ!

 

IMHO, Monks, priest, nun, those full time ones, should live in a humblely.

 

Their place of living should be in the temple's/ hospital hostel & mode of transport should be using public transport (bus, taxis). They must not have luxury goods/ lifesyle....but i think only in those old moives than have..

 

 

Also, is there a garmen regulator body for checking donations made to all the temples, mosque & churches in S'pore? Some of these collecton per day is $$$$$$$$$!!!

hmmm i'm just wondering is there a system to counts/ record/ audit/ keep all these money....

[Guest Julio369]

but i suspect many more still not discovered yet...

 

GREED IS GOOD.

Edited February 23, 2008 by Julio369

[Albeniz]

  Quote

i second the thought.

personally have seen many monks in those situation.

People respect them only because they are wearing the robes ,that's all .

 

I respected him, not because of his robe.

He walked the talk by doing the stunts himself during the charity shows.

That touched me.

 

This sets him apart from Durai.

 

But then again, misappropriating the fund is another issue.

[Guest Julio369]

pay me >10K /month salary & i can do all the Fear Factor stunt! I will eat worms, bull's penis, balls etc. I will do bungee, jump-chuting. I will do BCTC, run SOC, IPPT all in one day.

[Albeniz]

Yes, monks should live in a living quarter within the temple premises. Definitely not in a condo. They can drive a car, but not a Lexus. A Corolla Altis would be more reasonable.

The bulk of the donations come from people who stayed in HDB flats. How many Lexus are there in a typical HDB carpark? The recipients are richer than the donors! This is not acceptable.

 

Buddha had chosen to abandon his luxurious life-style as a prince to seek enlightenment.

But our monks here seem to have gone the opposite way. Something is not correct.

 

Even if Mingyi is not found guilty this time round, I hope he gives up his condo and Lexus,

walk his talk by converting them into money and donate them to the needy. He should be living in a hostel within the temple and drive a less flashy car.

[Albeniz]

  Quote

pay me >10K /month salary & i can do all the Fear Factor stunt! I will eat worms, bull's penis, balls etc. I will do bungee, jump-chuting. I will do BCTC, run SOC, IPPT all in one day.

 

I still won't do these stunts for >10k/month salary.

[Maersk1]

  Quote

my question is that, if Venerable Ming Yi was really found guilty with charged....can he be jailed ???

 

Disgraced priest Father Joachim Kang has been jailed for seven years.

Nobody, even religious leader, can escape from the Law if really found guilty.

 

 

DAMN IT....chances are he will be behind bars soon, he must be responsible of what he did

[Puffer_fish]

REMEMBER THE TIME HE TOLD THE WHOLE WORLD THAT THE LOAN AMOUNT IS ONLY 10,000 PLUS MINUS

 

 

BUT HE FORGOT TO ADD IN 2 MORE 00. YOU KNOW WHAT I AM PISS OFF ABOUT THE MORONS WHO THINKS THAT YA HE RIGHT GIVE LOAN TO PEOPLE IN NEED

 

BUT THE LOAN AMOUNT WAS A FEW MILLIONS, AND THE PERSON IN NEED IS HIMSELF..

 

I ALREADY KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG WHEN HE MOVE IN AS MY NEIGHBOUR IN CUSCADEN RESIDENCES CONDO

I WAS ASKING MYSELF WHY A MONK NEED TO STAY AT A POSH ORCHARD ROAD CONDO OVER LOOKING THE Hard rock cafe???????????????????

 

 

TO HELP HIMSELF MEDITATE BETTER AT NIGHT WHILE LOOKING AT THE CLUBBERS COMING OUT OF THE CLUB

Edited February 23, 2008 by Puffer_fish

[Contax]

  Quote

i second the thought.

personally have seen many monks in those situation.

People respect them only because they are wearing the robes ,that's all .

 

I respected him, not because of his robe.

He walked the talk by doing the stunts himself during the charity shows.

That touched me.

 

This sets him apart from Durai.

 

But then again, misappropriating the fund is another issue.

 

yep.nobody is above law.

[Puffer_fish]

WHY WOULD A MONK WANTS TO STAY IN A CONDO THAT WORTH 3.6 MILLIONS PLUS MINIUS DEPENDS ON THE MARKET

 

 

TAKE A LOOK ARE THESE NECESSARY FOR A MONK ????

 

NO OFFENCE TO ANYONE HOW MANY OF YOU CAN EARN 1 MILLION BEFORE YOU ARE 35 IN CASH

 

IF HE IS BUSINESS MAN I RESPECT HIM SAY GOOD CAPABLE

 

BUT IF YOU ACT AND BEGGED FOR PEOPLE TO DONATE TO YOU THEN USE A STICK AND F U C K YOUSELF

Edited February 23, 2008 by Puffer_fish

[Hoppe]

wah...