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by
Taipei Times
July 30, 2000
ABUSE CHARGES: A buddhist monk accused of sexually
molesting his monastery disciples still insists he is innocent.
STAFF WRITER
Master Chihhao, the Buddhist abbot suspected of
harassment and sexual abuse of young monks at his monastery, was released
on NT$200,000 bail after giving himself up to police yesterday following a
late night press conference in which he protested his innocence.
Disappearing for three days after the media disclosed
the allegations of sexual harassment of young monks, Chihhao showed up at
a press conference held shortly before midnight on July 28 and protested
his innocence of all the charges against him.
He was very emotional during the press conference which
was interrupted several times when he burst into tears.
"What do you want me to say about things I have never
done?" said Chihhao when he was asked by reporters to explain his
involvement.
Chihhao said that he had hugged, kissed and bathed young
monks but defended himself against all the allegations of molesting them,
saying he had done everything out of love.
"If this is sexual harassment, I wonder how people can
raise their own children without molesting them," he protested.
He also hinted that the scandal came as a result of a
power struggle within the monastery but refused to elaborate.
Another master at the monastery, Hungchi, had held a
news conference earlier in which he accused Chihhao of sexually abusing
some young monks.
Chihhao added that he had completely devoted himself to
taking care of his disciples and called the accusations an "unbearable
blow and a horrible experience" in his life.
The scandal first came to light on Wednesday evening,
when 24 of 32 young monks between six and 14 years old, living at the
monastery in Hsichih, Taipei County, told police that Chihhao had sexually
abused them.
Chihhao was taken to Hsichih police station yesterday
morning for an interview and was turned over to the Shihlin District
Prosecutors' Office in the afternoon.
He was released on NT$200,000 bail after being
questioned by divisional head prosecutor Chen Wen-chi. Chen said she
granted Chihhao bail because he turned himself in and would not be in a
position to interfere with the investigation as all the young monks had
been taken home by their parents.
Chihhao refused to make any more comments about the
allegations against him when the press conference finished. "I have
explained everything clearly," he said.
Before leaving the prosecutor's office, he knelt down in
front of TV cameras, saying "I want to apologize to the public for any
possible misunderstanding of Buddhism arising from this incident," said
Chihhao.
According to Chihhao's spiritual instructor Master
Chuehming, who met with him after the police interrogation, Chihhao would
like to resign as the principle of the monastery he established and would
not file a lawsuit against master Hungchi for his accusations.
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