One sign that the justice system of Singapore effectively works (as contrasted with that of the Philippines) is its ability to prosecute, convict, and punish all guilty persons regardless of their status and influence in society and its ability to shield itself from the debilitating and cancerous effects of graft and corruption and the weakening influence of partisan politicians.
An example is the recent conviction of a high-living and influential Buddhist monk who ran one of Singapore's most well-known charities. He was jailed for 10 months for fraud.
The monk, Shi Ming Yi, 47, was handed the sentence after being convicted last month of conspiring with his personal aide, Raymong Yeung, 34, to cheat the Ren Ci charity out of 50,000 Singapore dollars (36,000 US).
In the Philippines, it is impossible to envision a scenario where influential, well-connected and well-oiled inter-parochial catholic or protestant preachers (like Mike Velarde, Eddie Villanueva, et. al.), prominent local diocesan priests, and big-time and famous bishops or archbishops would be indicted, much less convicted, for estafa or for any financial felony involving the corporate funds and assets of their religious entities, despite the fact that it is common knowledge among Catholics here that many of such personalities do not regularly account for and publish the financial conditions of their religious orders, dioceses, parishes, or inter-parochial movements.
Under the Code of Canon Law, the parish priest or the bishop is the king, so to speak, in his parish or diocese with respect to both its spiritual or religious activities and its corporal and social-action funds and assets.
Although the code allows for a civilian accounting and audit committee and for a ceremonial parish pastoral council, such bodies never really effectively work (other than to serve as the volunteer assistants and unpaid staff of the priest or bishop or as members of their de facto fans club) or courageously serve their ultimate purpose of fiscalization because of the overwhelming influence of the priest or bishop, aggravated by the blind obedience and unquestioning religiosity of conservative catholic lay leaders who would rather keep quiet than directly or indirectly offend their priest or bishop with questions on the financial conditions of their parish and diocese, whether such questions are harmless, well-intentioned, incisive or critical.
How do you free, save and exempt a guilty estafador priest or bishop from criminal and civil liability in the Philippines? Here are some of the routine methods:
1. Transfer the priest to another parish where he is unknown, preferably in another diocese at least 300 kilometers way from his former parish. Anyway, the social and historical memory of the Filipinos is very short.
2. Influence the parish pastoral council to keep quiet about any financial scandal, invoking the greater interest of the church as the motive. Assure them of spiritual salvation and future efforts to correct the situation. Give them free sacraments and other pastoral favors in return.
3. If the victimized charitable entity is a corporation, influence the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to be anemic in its investigation (or better yet, not to commence any legal inquiry or audits at all, which the SEC would surely appreciate because of its laziness and incompetence and lack of field manpower).
4. Manage and bribe the mass media not to explode the scandal in the press. Assure their editors and reporters of spiritual salvation.
5. When things get worse, secure the affidavits of desistance, waivers or quitclaims from the members of the charity, parish pastoral council, or religious entity to free and exempt the priest or bishop from the effects of the scandal. No witnesses, no cases.
6. Use local and national politicians to influence the prosecutors and judges handling the criminal and civil cases involving priests and pastors, when such cases finally reach the justice system. These politicians are merely returning the favor to the church for the votes of its parishioners that it gives them during election times. (Priests and bishops secretly maintain and support their favorite local and national politicians. It is a quid pro quo scheme).
7. Others.
Here is the news item on the matter.
High-living Singapore monk jailed for fraud
SINGAPORE — A high-living Buddhist monk who ran one of Singapore's most well-known charities was Saturday jailed for 10 months for fraud, court officials said.
Shi Ming Yi, 47, was handed the sentence after being convicted last month of conspiring with his personal aide, Raymong Yeung, 34, to cheat the Ren Ci charity out of 50,000 Singapore dollars (36,000 US).
Yeung was sentenced to nine months for the crime.
Shi was the founder of Ren Ci -- a charity that provides subsidized medical care to
elderly patients -- and had lived the high life, owning several luxury cars and properties
in Singapore and Australia, before being caught.
He had also owned a horse in Australia.
In 2004, Shi, who was Ren Ci's chief executive at the time, made the unauthorized loan of 50,000 dollars from the charity's coffers to Yeung, who used the money to pay for a friend's home renovation in Hong Kong.
The pair said the money was loaned to a shop affiliated with the charity, but external auditors found this to be untrue.
Singapore is a predominantly Buddhist country, with 42.5 percent of the population over 15 subscribing to the religion.
See:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hjPv0izoS5SCFF1ViiYgReruPFmg
