Ren Ci Hospital and Singapore Charity

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SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health has accorded Ren Ci Hospital and Medicare Centre the status of an Institution of a Public Character (IPC). The approval takes effect from Tuesday.


In a statement, Ren Ci said the approval is a reaffirmation of the work done by its management committee to put in place a comprehensive system of transparency, check and balance, and accountability.

Ren Ci said it will ensure all policies and guidelines are strictly adhered to.

With the IPC status, Ren Ci is now able to issue double tax—deductible receipts to donors. The hospital hopes that the public will continue to support its cause to help the sick and the less fortunate.

Ren Ci’s chairman, Chua Thian Poh, said: "We are very happy to receive this piece of news. All the hard work, dedication and determination by (the) Ren Ci team over the past months have been fruitful."

Ren Ci’s IPC status was not renewed when it expired last November after some irregularities were uncovered.

Following investigations by the Commercial Affairs Department, Ren Ci’s long—time head, Venerable Shi Ming Yi, now faces ten charges under the Penal Code and the Charities Act.

He has been charged with two counts of criminal breach of trust, one count of forgery for the purpose of cheating and one count of abetment of falsification of accounts under the Penal Code.

He also faces six charges under the Charities Act for giving false information to the Commissioner of Charities.

Others charged included his former personal assistant, Raymond Yeung, and manager of Ren Ci’s Resource Development Department, David Phua.

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There are so many shocking news for our charity institutes, probably more are covered, are you still confident in donating money???

 

[Invitation1]

July 17, 2008
ARREST OF FORMER REN CI CHIEF

First religious leader told to quit key roles
Commissioner says suspension needed to protect charities' interests

HIGH-PROFILE Buddhist monk Ming Yi has become the first religious leader to be suspended by the authorities from management roles in religious groups here.
The Commissioner of Charities' office told The Straits Times yesterday that it decided to suspend Ming Yi as the criminal charges against the former Ren Ci Hospital chief executive involved 'fraud and dishonesty'.

'It is necessary for the Commissioner of Charities to exercise his powers to suspend him from executive positions in the charities concerned to protect their interests and property,' it said.

The order was made on Tuesday, when Ming Yi, 46, was charged in court with 10 counts of fraud, forgery and giving false information, among other things.
Three others were also charged, including a former aide of the monk who was charged with possessing obscene and uncertified films.

The monk is out on $200,000 bail. For now, he is not allowed to hold 'operational, board governance and management duties' at the Ren Ci Hospital and Medicare Centre which he founded in 1994, and five other Buddhist temples and charities.

They are the Foo Hai Ch'an Monastery, of which he was abbot; Foo Hai Ch'an Buddhist Cultural and Welfare Association; Singapore Buddhist Free Clinic; the Singapore Regional Centre of the World Fellowship of Buddhists and the Katho Temple.

However, he is free to perform his religious roles as a monk, said the Commissioner's office.

News of the criminal charges and suspensions has shocked the Buddhist community, of which Ming Yi is a respected leader.

'Devotees are all shocked and saddened by the news. They are asking why this has happened,' said the president of the Singapore Buddhist Lodge, Mr Lee Bock Guan.

The president of the Buddhist Fellowship, Ms Angie Monksfield, was surprised to learn that Ming Yi had been involved in business and was part owner of a condominium apartment off Holland Road.

Representatives of charities interviewed yesterday were worried that the case may invite another backlash from the donating public.

In 2005, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) lost about 100,000 regular donors overnight after it was uncovered that its former chief T. T. Durai had lied to the public and spent charity money lavishly, among other misdeeds.

It remains to be seen if Ren Ci, which runs hospitals for the chronically sick, will take a hit if donors move away.

But long-time supporter Sam Goi was among those who said yesterday that they will be sticking with Ren Ci through this crisis.

Businessman Goi, known as the Popiah King, said: 'If people stopping giving to Ren Ci, what will happen to its sick patients?'

NKF chairman Gerard Ee said the authorities had put in place measures to ensure charities are run properly after the NKF case. :oIo: