By Shaffiq Alkhatib, 938LIVE | Posted: 21 November 2009 1143 hrs
SINGAPORE: The ex-CEO of Ren Ci Hospital, Ming Yi has been sentenced to ten months jail. A district court has also sentenced his former aide, 34-year-old Raymond Yeung to nine months' imprisonment.
47-year-old Ming Yi, whose real name is Goh Kah Heng and Raymond Yeung were convicted last month of falsifying Ren Ci payment vouchers.
The pair was involved in an unauthorised loan of S$50,000 made in 2004 to the Mandala Buddhist Cultural Centre, a religious artefact shop managed by Yeung.
They were also convicted of giving false information to the Commissioner of Charities.
District Judge Toh Yung Cheong said Ming Yi had abused his authority and betrayed the trust given to him.
He said the money could have been used to help the poor and needy patients.
In mitigation, Ming Yi's lawyer Senior Counsel Andre Yeap argued against a jail sentence.
He said the "tsunami-sized" shame Ming Yi endured because of the trial is punishment enough.
He said Ming Yi had helped a lot of people even risking his life when performing physical stunts to raise money for Ren Ci.
Moreover, he also did not personally profit from the loan to Yeung.
But the prosecution, DPP Jaswant Singh, said a tough stand is needed when charitable funds are misused.
Moreover, Yeung put the money to "frivolous" use to renovate a friend's flat in Hong Kong.
Both Ming Yi and Yeung have filed an appeal.
Andre Yeap, Ming Yi’s lawyer, said: "We actually have ten days to file a notice of appeal against sentencing. But for administrative reasons, we were told we have to file a notice of appeal today, so that's been filed. I believe Raymond has filed a notice of appeal also for the same reason."
Both Ming Yi and Yeung had filed an appeal against their conviction last month.
Both men are now out on bail. Ming Yi's was set at S$450,000 while Yeung's is S$200,000. - 938LIVE/vm
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