http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20090421-136629.html
Excerpts from the court proceedings
Tue, Apr 21, 2009
AsiaOne
Q: ...I want to ask you about the purchases made on your credit card. I've looked through your purchases and find that your expenditures are quite substantial. Can you explain why? What were the purchases used for?
A (Ming Yi): My expenditures are so because I go on tours, and I will purchase things from time to time.
Q: So these are all your personal expenses?
A: Some are personal, but I also buy thins for others. They will pay me back on those purchases.
Q: Who are these people?
A: Friends...
Q: I'm showing you some bills. They are both from UOB.
A: I don't want to see them. You can just put your questions forward to me directly.
Q: Then I'll tell you frankly that when I saw your expenditures, I was shocked by the amount of money you spend on luxury branded items. Before I ask you any questions, would you like to explain these expenditures first?
A: I believe that we live in a modern world.
Q: What do you mean?
A: The modern world. I think that the world is different now, isn't it? The world has changed, it is no longer like what it was in the past.
Q: In what way is it different?
A: I believe... just like others do... if people earn more, they will spend more, right? For example, I will spend money to buy things... but I don't see money as important, just like, if I can afford something I will buy it. If I can't afford it, I won't buy it.
Q: Lets go into the details. I'm referring to these (items listed on the credit card bill) are all items from luxury brands. We are talking about Mont Blanc and Louis Vuitton, hotels like St. Regis, The Regent and Four Seasons. When you go shopping, you buy branded items, and when you stay in a hotel, you once stayed at Banyan Tree.
A: Just as I mentioned. Many religious people, not just myself, are very different now.
Q: And "different" means that you can...
A: I'm not saying that we can. It depends on how you see things like this. I think that different people see things differently. To me, I think that for branded goods, and things like that, yes we can. You can also say that things like these last a long time. But when I buy these things, I won't use Ren Ci's money. I never used Ren Ci's money to purchase these things.
Q: You mentioned this before - it is most important that money is well spent, such as on people who need help?
A: I'm helping people. I'm still helping people.
Q: Do you believe that these expenditures are all well spent?
A: I'm still helping people. But at the same time, I still need to take care of myself as well.
Excerpts from the court proceedings
Tue, Apr 21, 2009
AsiaOne
Q: ...I want to ask you about the purchases made on your credit card. I've looked through your purchases and find that your expenditures are quite substantial. Can you explain why? What were the purchases used for?
A (Ming Yi): My expenditures are so because I go on tours, and I will purchase things from time to time.
Q: So these are all your personal expenses?
A: Some are personal, but I also buy thins for others. They will pay me back on those purchases.
Q: Who are these people?
A: Friends...
Q: I'm showing you some bills. They are both from UOB.
A: I don't want to see them. You can just put your questions forward to me directly.
Q: Then I'll tell you frankly that when I saw your expenditures, I was shocked by the amount of money you spend on luxury branded items. Before I ask you any questions, would you like to explain these expenditures first?
A: I believe that we live in a modern world.
Q: What do you mean?
A: The modern world. I think that the world is different now, isn't it? The world has changed, it is no longer like what it was in the past.
Q: In what way is it different?
A: I believe... just like others do... if people earn more, they will spend more, right? For example, I will spend money to buy things... but I don't see money as important, just like, if I can afford something I will buy it. If I can't afford it, I won't buy it.
Q: Lets go into the details. I'm referring to these (items listed on the credit card bill) are all items from luxury brands. We are talking about Mont Blanc and Louis Vuitton, hotels like St. Regis, The Regent and Four Seasons. When you go shopping, you buy branded items, and when you stay in a hotel, you once stayed at Banyan Tree.
A: Just as I mentioned. Many religious people, not just myself, are very different now.
Q: And "different" means that you can...
A: I'm not saying that we can. It depends on how you see things like this. I think that different people see things differently. To me, I think that for branded goods, and things like that, yes we can. You can also say that things like these last a long time. But when I buy these things, I won't use Ren Ci's money. I never used Ren Ci's money to purchase these things.
Q: You mentioned this before - it is most important that money is well spent, such as on people who need help?
A: I'm helping people. I'm still helping people.
Q: Do you believe that these expenditures are all well spent?
A: I'm still helping people. But at the same time, I still need to take care of myself as well.
