- Shi Ming Yi
-
This is a Chinese name; the family name is 释 (Shi).
Ven. Shi Ming Yi (Chinese: 释明义; birth name Goh Kah Heng; born 1962) is a Buddhist monk from Singapore, currently serving as the abbot of Foo Hai Chan Monastery.[1] In September 1994, Foo Hai Ch'an Monastery, under the leadership of Ming Yi, established the 175-bed Ren Ci Hospital and Medicare Centre for the poor and needy chronically ill patients.
On October 7, 2009, Ming Yi was convicted of four charges of conspiracy, misuse of funds and forgery.[2] He was subsequently sentenced to 10 months in jail but was reduced to 6 months after appeal.
Contents
Awards
In 1996, the Singapore government awarded the Public Service Medal to Ming Yi in recognition of his contributions to the country. In September 1998, the hospital established its affiliate, Ren Ci Day Care Centre for the Elderly. Ming Yi received his Masters in Healthcare Management from the University of Wales.
The Public Service Medal awarded in 1996 was forfeited by the President of Singapore, N R Nathan, subsequent to Shi Ming Yi's conviction and imprisonment for conspiracy, misuse of funds and forgery with effect from 23 May 2011. [3]
Buddhist Work
Ming Yi took over the abbotship of the Kun Chung Temple in Hong Kong, the Kwan Inn Temple in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, and the vice-chairmanship of the affiliated Heung Hoi Ching Kok Lin Association.
In 1999, Foo Hai Ch'an Monastery took over the management of 270 beds in 11 single-storey wards which were formerly part of Tan Tock Seng Hospital. It organises fund raising activities such as concerts with such luminaries as Andy Lau, Liza Wang, Adam Cheng, Roman Tam, and Frances Yip who performed for free.
Controversy
Ren Ci Hospital investigations
On 26 November 2007, Ren Ci Hospital was under investigation by the Charity Council of Singapore for three possible violations of the Code of Governance for Charities and Institutions of a Public Character. Ming Yi was alleged to have made interest free loans in violation of Ren Ci's own guidelines on Financial Management and Controls and Disclosure and Transparency, and had also served as both Board Chairman and CEO of the hospital which is an infringement of existing guidelines since it creates a potential conflict of interest and a lack of check and balances.[4]
In the course of the investigations by auditing firm, Ernst & Young Associates, a few financial transactions could not be satisfactorily explained. To get a clearer picture, the Ministry of Health referred the case to the Commercial Affairs Department in February 2008 and the final outcome of the investigation was completed sometime in March 2008.[5]
Ming Yi was arrested after a five-month probe. On July 14, 2008, he stepped down from all his positions regarding charities. The arrest comes five months after he went on long leave when the police were asked to probe the charity's finances. His trial commenced on July 15, 2008. The Ministry of Health found 'possible irregularities' in Ren Ci's records after an audit.
At the heart of the issue were questionable loans made by the hospital, amounting to several million dollars. Some of these loans were allegedly given to companies with links to the venerable. There were also loans given to a helper with the charity as well as investments made over the years in his name.[6]
On October 7, 2009, Ming Yi was found guilty of misappropriating Ren Ci's funds by approving the loan, falsifying accounts and giving false information to the Commissioner of Charities (COC)[2] He was sentenced for 10 months in jail and had appealed the case.[7][8] On March 8, 2010, Ming Yi's appeal was postponed due to his lawyer having a medical condition.[9] On May 27, 2010, during the appeal in High Court, Justice Tay Yong Kwang dismissed the appeal but reduced the sentence from 10 months to 6 months based on Ming Yi's significant contributions to Ren Ci and society. Ming Yi serves his jail sentence immediately.[10]
On August 26, 2010, Ming Yi was released from prison after serving four months. He was given one-third remission on his jail term for good behaviour. However, Ming Yi was put on the home detention scheme which he was tagged with an electronic monitoring device and only allowed to leave the house at fixed times.[11] He completed his sentence on September 27, 2010.[12] For the six remaining charges against Ming Yi, he was given a discharge amounting to an acquittal for them.[13]
Educational qualification
It was reported that the venerable claims to hold a Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy that was awarded by Mannin University in Ireland. However, the existence of this university is questionable. Ming Yi's spokesman commented that the research degree was undertaken through distance learning and that the monk never visited the said university.[14]
References
- ^ The Straits Times, Singapore, dated 22 April 2009
- ^ a b "Former Ren Ci head, ex-aide Raymond Yeung found guilty of forging payment slips". ChannelNewsAsia.com. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1009828/1/.html. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
- ^ President Nathan forfeits public service awards to Ming Yi, Durai, http://ChannelNewsAsia.com, 27 May 2011.
- ^ Ng, Julia. "Ren Ci may have flouted 3 governance guidelines: Council". Channel News Asia. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/313830/1/.html. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
- ^ "CAD to investigate Ren Ci's financial transactions". Channel News Asia. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna/cgi-bin/search/search_7days.pl?status=&search=Ren%20Ci%20Hospital&id=329518. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
- ^ "Ren Ci case: Arrest comes after five-month probe". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2008-07-17. http://web.archive.org/web/20080717044349/http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_257701.html. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
- ^ "Ming Yi gets 10 months jail". The Straits Times. http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_457595.html. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
- ^ "Ming Yi, aide file appeals". AsiaOne. http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Crime/Story/A1Story20091019-174538.html.
- ^ "Ming Yi's appeal postponed". AsiaOne. http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20100308-203364.html.
- ^ "Ming Yi's jail term cut to 6 months after appeal". Channel NewsAsia. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1059342/1/.html.
- ^ "Ming Yi released from prison, now on home detention". Channel NewsAsia. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1077299/1/.html.
- ^ "Ex-Ren Ci CEO Ming Yi to be back in court on Thursday". Channel NewsAsia. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1085018/1/.html.
- ^ "Former Ren Ci CEO walks free". Channel NewsAsia. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1085643/1/.html.
- ^ "Ren Ci chief in new controversy over PhD". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2007-11-21. http://web.archive.org/web/20071121124159/http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_178159.html. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
External links
- Biography from Buddha.sg
- "A monk first, a CEO second", The Straits Times & The Dhamma Times, 31 August 2001
- Aseanpedia.com: Biography of Shi Ming Yi
- Ming Yi On Trial - He buys BMW, racehouse in Perth
Categories:- 1962 births
- Singaporean religious leaders
- Singaporean Buddhist monks
- Alumni of the University of Wales
- Living people
- Zen Buddhist monks and priests
- Members of the clergy with criminal convictions
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