Shaolin Temple head faces probe for 'embezzling funds'

BEIJING: China's famous Shaolin Temple announced Sunday that its abbot is under investigation on suspicion of misappropriation and embezzlement of project funds and temple assets.

Shi Yongxin was also alleged to have committed criminal offences and seriously violated the Buddhist precepts by maintaining relationships with multiple women over a long period and fathering at least one child, according to a notice from the temple's authority on its WeChat account. The notice said multiple departments were conducting a joint investigation against him, and relevant findings would be announced to the public in due course.

The fame of Henan-based Shaolin Temple has gone beyond a religious institution. It is also famous for its martial arts culture, or kung fu, which has been referenced in many movies and TV dramas, including the 1982 film "The Shaolin Temple." The news about Shi Yongxin ranked top on search engine Baidu and social media platform Weibo Sunday night.

Local media reported the abbot had been hit by scandalous accusations in the past, including claims that he fathered several children and embezzled money. According to a news outlet, investigation reports exonerated him of all charges in 2016.

Shi Yongxin entered the temple in 1981 and became its abbot in 1999. Xinhua in 2015 reported he was known as a "CEO monk," as one of the first Chinese monks to obtain an MBA, and had sparked controversy for developing commercial operations like kung fu shows.