Ex-abbot of Shaolin temple faces misconduct probe

BEIJING: China has accused the former head monk of its most famous Buddhist temple of embezzling funds and sexual misconduct, beginning a new investigation more than a decade after similar allegations surfaced.

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Shi Yongxin, the abbot of the Shaolin Temple until he lost his ordination, is under probe for allegedly misappropriating temple assets, the 1,500-year-old monastery said in a notice on its official WeChat account on Sunday. The institution also accused him of violating Buddhist precepts by having long-term relationships with several women and fathering illegitimate children.

The announcement raises questions about timing that have dominated Chinese social media. Many users wondered why authorities acted now, nearly a decade after disciples first publicly accused Shi Yongxin of similar behaviour in 2015.