An abbot of a temple in Taiwan, China embezzled 300 million yuan in charitable donations and used cryptocurrency for money laundering, with nearly 800 kilograms of gold and silver unearthed outside his meditation room.

According to Taiwanese media reports, Donglin Temple, a well-known temple in Yilan, Taiwan region of China, has been embroiled in a case of embezzling alms and money laundering. Abbot Zhang Qingyu and his son Zhang Weifu, who has become a monk, are suspected of long-term embezzlement of believers' donations and temple property, with the amount involved exceeding 300 million New Taiwan dollars (about 60.77 million yuan). They concealed illegal proceeds by purchasing cryptocurrencies, gold, silver, and surrounding farmhouses. The Yilan District Prosecutors Office launched a search on November 2, digging more than a dozen iron boxes from the gravel ground outside the abbot's meditation room, seizing about 70 kilograms of gold and over 700 kilograms of silver, totaling nearly 800 kilograms with a market value of over 330 million New Taiwan dollars (about 67.24 million yuan). The case originated from a report by a believer's family member, who alleged his mother was defrauded of more than 300 million New Taiwan dollars by Zhang Qingyu under various pretexts while practicing at Donglin Temple between 2010 and 2014. Investigations also found temple funds were long controlled solely by Zhang Qingyu, with part of the alms and temple assets transferred to private accounts. On November 3, the Yilan District Court ruled to detain Zhang Qingyu and Zhang Weifu on suspicion of public welfare embezzlement and violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, banning them from meeting visitors. The executive director of the involved Dharma Protector Association and the abbot's wife were released on bail of 1 million New Taiwan dollars each.