Shaolin Temple Scandal: Former Abbot Jailed for 24 Years in Corruption Crackdown

A Chinese court on Friday sentenced Shi Yongxin, the former abbot of China’s famous Shaolin Temple, to 24 years in prison after finding him guilty of a range of offenses, including misappropriation of funds and bribery. The court, located in central Henan province, also imposed a substantial fine of 3.5 million yuan (approximately $516,000) on Shi Yongxin, whose original name is Liu Yingcheng, following a detailed trial.

State broadcaster CCTV reported that the court determined Shi used his various positions, particularly as the temple abbot, to illegally embezzle more than 131 million yuan ($19 million) either alone or in conspiracy with others. These significant financial malpractices occurred over an extended period, spanning from 2003 to 2025. Additionally, the court discovered that Shi had misappropriated funds totaling over 151 million yuan (about $22 million) for his personal use. This amount was held for more than three months without repayment between 2012 and 2022, among other financial irregularities uncovered during the investigation.

The court emphasized the severe nature of Shi’s crimes, noting the massive amounts of money involved, the particularly serious nature of his bribery offenses, and the protracted duration of his criminal conduct. These actions, the court concluded,