Local authorities have formally approved the arrest of the former head of China’s famous Shaolin Temple, four months after he was placed under criminal investigation for alleged financial and sex scandals.
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Shi Yongxin’s arrest had been approved “on suspicion of embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, and accepting bribes as a non-state functionary”, the Xinxiang Procuratorate announced in a statement on Sunday.
Xinxiang, in China’s central Henan province, is about two hours’ drive from the county-level city of Dengfeng, where the Shaolin Temple is located.
Shi, 60, served as abbot of what is one of the world’s most famous Buddhist monasteries for more than 25 years before being removed in July over a series of allegations, including misappropriation and embezzlement of project funds and temple assets.
He was also accused of “seriously violating” Buddhist principles, maintaining “improper relations” with multiple women and fathering at least one child.
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Sunday’s statement said Xinxiang authorities, who had launched the investigation under the direction of the Henan provincial public security department, had requested the local prosecutorial body to approve his arrest.
Shi’s Buddhist credentials were revoked by the Buddhist Association of China when the scandal broke in July. The association accused him of “seriously undermining the reputation of the Buddhist community and the image of monks”. Companies linked to Shi were also deregistered.