Hooley shaolin vd monk

April 2, 2009
Ming Yi on trial today
By Carolyn Quek

Ming Yi, whose real name is Goh Kah Heng, faces 10 charges. The 47-year-old is accused of forgery, lying to the Commissioner of Charities (COC) and misappropriating $350,000, among other things. --ST PHOTO: ALBERT SIM

THE former chief executive officer of Ren Ci Hospital is expected in a district court from today to answer charges related to the charity's financial affairs.
Ming Yi, the high-profile monk, will be tried with his former personal executive Raymond Yeung Chi Hang.

The court has set aside time until April 24 to hear the case.

Ming Yi, whose real name is Goh Kah Heng, faces 10 charges. The 47-year-old is accused of forgery, lying to the Commissioner of Charities (COC) and misappropriating $350,000, among other things.

When the charges were laid before the Buddhist monk nine months ago, he was suspended from all operational, governance and management duties at Ren Ci Hospital and Medicare Centre and five other Buddhist temples and charities.

Yeung, 34, and two others were charged on July 15 last year. Yeung faces two charges, including one of helping Ming Yi forge a Ren Ci document.

Another former member of Ren Ci's staff, David Phua Seow Hua, 48, faces one count of lying to the COC, but his case has been stood down for now. The third man, Pang Leong Chuan, 28, a former aide of Ming Yi, was fined $37,500 last September for hoarding more than 100 obscene films.

Ming Yi's trial comes on the back of his appearance in court last month, during which his lawyer tried unsuccessfully to have the trial transferred to the High Court.

Senior Counsel Andre Yeap told the court his client made this request because he feared he would not get a fair trial. Mr Yeap explained that Mr Tan Siong Thye, the former head of the Commercial Affairs Department who had investigated Ming Yi, was now the Subordinate Courts' top judge and since he assessed all district judges, the presiding judge in Ming Yi's trial might lean towards the prosecution.

High Court judge Choo Han Teck rejected the application, saying the fear was unwarranted.

and now for the real behind the kungfu scene of this flower monk.....stay tuned

when unknown, he's holy. now he's famous, he's very HOOLEY!! before in recluse, he was VENERABLE. now in the open, he's VD veneral monk