放虎归山

Aug 3, 2009
Ming Yi's trial ends
By Carolyn Quek

Most of the last day was spent discussing a meeting held eight years ago between the Manpower Ministry (MOM) and Ming Yi (left). -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

THE criminal trial against Ren Ci founder Ming Yi and his former personal aide drew to a close on Monday. The judgment will be delivered in October.

Most of the last day was spent discussing a meeting held eight years ago between the Manpower Ministry (MOM) and the Buddhist monk.

The meeting in July 2001 was held to appeal against the minstry's rejection of Raymond Yeung's employment pass application.

This issue is a key part of the defence's case. Ming Yi claimed in earlier court testimony that it was at this meeting that an MOM officer told him how to circumvent the law so that Raymond Yeung could work in Singapore.

However the prosecution produced two witnesses to rebutt Ming Yi's evidence, namely the two officers that met the monk at the July 2001 meeting. Both officers denied having given any advice to the monk.

'When the employment pass is rejected, we do not advise people to break our rules,' said one of the officers, Mr Lim Chiang Wee, who now works for the Singapore Land Authority.

Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.