The Venerable Ming Yi leading about 300 devotees at a chanting session last night at the monastery. He said that everything is back to normal. -- ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG
CONVICTED Buddhist monk Shi Ming Yi, who completed his six-month jail term on Monday, said yesterday he will remain the abbot of the Foo Hai Ch'an monastery.
The roles the founder and former chief executive of Ren Ci hospital will take on after his release have been the subject of speculation.
The Venerable Ming Yi, who led an evening chanting session for about 300 Buddhist devotees at the Foo Hai Ch'an monastery at Geylang East yesterday, declined to be interviewed when he was approached by The Straits Times.
But the 48-year-old, who appeared cheerful and energetic, said 'yes' when asked if he will continue to serve as abbot at the monastery.
The monk was sentenced to 10 months in jail last November on four charges related to Ren Ci, including an unauthorised $50,000 loan granted to his personal assistant Raymond Yeung from the hospital's coffers in May 2004. Yeung, 35, was jailed for nine months.
But the monk had his sentence cut by four months on appeal in the High Court in May.
