Buddhist master Kai Hung (開泓) was yesterday released on bail of NT$100,000 after he was on Tuesday found to be in possession of controlled drugs.
Prosecutors and police raided Chongfo Temple (崇佛寺) in Miaoli County’s Toufen Township (頭份), where Kai Hung lives and found 19g of amphetamine tablets after a video uploaded to the Internet showed Kai Hung allegedly using illegal drugs, the Criminal Investigation Bureau said.
Kai Hung is seen in the video smoking a pipe, while his behavior is similar to that of people under the influence of drugs, the bureau said.
He makes obscene gestures while walking in front of the camera naked, apparently incoherent, and says: “My husband is amazing,” and “I love my husband,” it said.
The bureau said it is also looking into possible criminal breaches of privacy, as the video allegedly shows Kai Hung having sex with other men.
It was unclear whether the men had agreed to being filmed, but so far no complaints have been filed, investigators said.
When police arrived at the temple they were blocked by nuns who spoke loudly in an apparent attempt to warn Kai Hung, investigators said.
During questioning, Kai Hung admitted to using drugs and filming sex acts, which he said he posted on the Internet, but denied providing drugs to other people or taking people to the temple to use drugs, they said.
Asked by investigators about the purpose of his residence at the temple, Kai Hung said he was “studying Buddhist doctrine.”
Kai Hung was expelled from Tongshan Temple (同善寺) in the county’s Gongguan Township (公館) in September for “behavioral problems,” investigators found.
He previously held the position of secretary-general at the Chinese Young Buddhist Association, they said.
Considering that most countries issue more than five denominations of banknotes, the central bank has decided to redesign all five denominations, the bank said as it prepares for the first major overhaul of the banknotes in more than 24 years. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-lung (楊金龍) is expected to report to the Legislative Yuan today on the bank’s operations and the redesign’s progress. The bank in a report sent to the legislature ahead of today’s meeting said it had commissioned a survey on the public’s preferences. Survey results showed that NT$100 and NT$1,000 banknotes are the most commonly used, while NT$200 and NT$2,000
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday reported the first case of a new COVID-19 subvariant — BA.3.2 — in a 10-year-old Singaporean girl who had a fever upon arrival in Taiwan and tested positive for the disease. The girl left Taiwan on March 20 and the case did not have a direct impact on the local community, it said. The WHO added the BA.3.2 strain to its list of Variants Under Monitoring in December last year, but this was the first imported case of the COVID-19 variant in Taiwan, CDC Deputy Director-General Lin Ming-cheng (林明誠) said. The girl arrived in Taiwan on
ANNUAL EVENT: Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in Daan Park, with an event zone operating from 10am to 6pm This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park today and tomorrow, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a themed food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said yesterday. Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm, it said. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs, it added. People could also try the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area, the department said. Three PokeStops are
This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park this weekend, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a theme food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances. Pokemon Go Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as photo attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs. Pokemon trainers could also experience the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area. Three PokeStops are to be set up in the park. Trainers are invited to take