Zhengzhou, China: A court in Henan province sentenced former Shaolin Temple abbot Shi Yongxin to 24 years in prison. The court also fined him 3.5 million yuan in a corruption case, state media reported.
Shi, whose real name is Liu Yingcheng, was convicted of occupational embezzlement, fund misappropriation, bribery as a non-state employee and offering bribes. China Central Television reported the details.
The court said Shi used his position to embezzle funds. This caused “severely harmful consequences and adverse social impact,” according to CCTV.
The Associated Press, citing CCTV, reported that Shi embezzled more than 131 million yuan. He also used another 151 million yuan for personal purposes, without repaying them, between 2003 and 2025.
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State media said Shi expressed remorse and voluntarily disclosed additional crimes that law enforcement officials had not discovered.
He was also found to have violated monastic vows by maintaining relationships with multiple women and fathering a child.
Shi was placed under investigation last year on suspicion of misappropriating project funds and temple assets. Shaolin Temple, in central China’s Henan province, is known worldwide for its association with kung fu and Chan Buddhism.
