Shi Yongxin

Shi Yongxin (born Liu Yingcheng), the former abbot of the Shaolin Temple, was sentenced to 24 years in prison and fined 3.5 million yuan on May 29, 2026, by the Xinxiang Intermediate People's Court. He was convicted of embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, corporate extortion, and bribery. Between 2003 and 2025, he embezzled over 131 million yuan and misappropriated more than 151 million yuan for personal use. He also accepted over 11 million yuan in bribes and paid over 5 million yuan in bribes to state officials. Following a July 2025 investigation into these crimes and allegations of maintaining improper relationships with multiple women and fathering illegitimate children, Shi was removed as abbot and his religious credentials were revoked. He confessed to the charges and did not appeal. Earlier allegations against him in 2015 regarding financial and sexual misconduct were dismissed by government investigators at that time.