Shamed Taoist priest resigns from top posts
By Li Xinran |
August 30, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A TAOIST priest accused of fraud has resigned his positions as deputy of the country's top Taoist body and as an adviser to local government.
Li Yi, 41, head of two Taoist temples in Chongqing Municipality, has given up his post as vice chairman of the Chinese Taoist Association and membership of local people's political consultant conference, Chongqing's top advisory body.
The Chinese Taoist Association approved Li's resignation on its website.
In addition, the ethnic and religious office of Chongqing's Beibei District where Li's temples sit has confirmed his resignation and the suspension of his training courses.
Beibei's taxation bureau has also claimed taxes Li owes for charging his followers for different kinds of training courses but not registering the money as revenue.
The Beibei ethnic and religious office has also urged Li to rectify falsified demonstrations of his alleged supernatural abilities and repay millions of yuan in debts to comply with court rulings he had ignored.
Li became famous for sitting cross-legged under water in a television show. Li said he could hold the position without breathing for more than two hours because of a Taoist skill. In fact, he was sitting in a transparent sealed container.
He is said to have attracted more than 30,000 followers, including many important business figures and showbiz celebrities.
Li Yi, 41, head of two Taoist temples in Chongqing Municipality, has given up his post as vice chairman of the Chinese Taoist Association and membership of local people's political consultant conference, Chongqing's top advisory body.
The Chinese Taoist Association approved Li's resignation on its website.
In addition, the ethnic and religious office of Chongqing's Beibei District where Li's temples sit has confirmed his resignation and the suspension of his training courses.
Beibei's taxation bureau has also claimed taxes Li owes for charging his followers for different kinds of training courses but not registering the money as revenue.
The Beibei ethnic and religious office has also urged Li to rectify falsified demonstrations of his alleged supernatural abilities and repay millions of yuan in debts to comply with court rulings he had ignored.
Li became famous for sitting cross-legged under water in a television show. Li said he could hold the position without breathing for more than two hours because of a Taoist skill. In fact, he was sitting in a transparent sealed container.
He is said to have attracted more than 30,000 followers, including many important business figures and showbiz celebrities.
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