Former Shaolin Temple abbot arrested on charges of embezzlement and bribery

(CLO) Former abbot of Shaolin Temple, Thich Vinh Tin, was arrested on charges of embezzlement, misappropriation of public funds and bribery.

The People's Procuratorate of Xinxiang City, Henan Province, China, has approved an arrest warrant for monk Shi Yongxin, according to information from local authorities on November 16.

He was accused of embezzlement, misappropriation of public funds and accepting bribes as a non-public official. The case is currently under investigation by the Xinxiang City Police Department.

Former Shaolin Temple abbot Shi Yongxin. Photo: CC/中国新闻社

In July, the former abbot was dismissed, stripped of his Buddhist name, and placed under investigation following a series of allegations. He was suspected of embezzlement, misappropriation of temple funds and property, having illicit relationships with multiple women, and fathering children out of wedlock.

Thich Vinh Tin, 60, has been the abbot of Shaolin Temple since 1999. In the following decades, he has contributed to expanding the research and promotion of Shaolin martial arts to the world . However, he is also known as the "CEO monk" for founding dozens of companies.

Shaolin Temple's business network under his reign continued to expand, penetrating into many fields such as culture, cuisine , medicine and clothing. This caused him to face heavy criticism for commercializing Buddhism.

In response to the scandals involving Mr. Thich Vinh Tin, the Chinese Buddhist Sangha has spoken out in criticism, saying that his behavior is "extremely bad, seriously damaging the reputation of the Buddhist community and the image of monks."

Shaolin Temple was built in 495 AD and is revered as the cradle of Zen Buddhism and the birthplace of Shaolin martial arts. The temple has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Source: https://congluan.vn/cuu-tru-tri-thieu-lam-tu-bi-bat-vi-cao-buoc-tham-o-va-nhan-hoi-lo-10318063.html