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Altar assistant accuses spirit medium of molesting female devotees in the guise of giving massages

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2 years ago

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SINGAPORE —  Spirit medium or just a charlatan? A female altar assistant accused a Chinese spirit medium (or called “tangki” in Hokkien) of allegedly molesting his assistant and devotees by the excuse of giving a massage, and even asked his devotees to buy a crab as an offering, in a name of a deity spirit.

Local Chinese media Shin Min Daily News reports that the assistant, 37-year-old Ms Lee was introduced to Mr Chong, a Chinese spirit medium through her mother’s friend as she was having some problems with her family last year.

Ms Lee seeks Mr Chong’s consultation every week at his worship altar which is set up in his house in the Bukit Panjang area.

Ms Lee firmly believes in Mr Chong’s guidance, having invited him to do a “spiritual cleansing” for her home and offered him money in return.

When the two got more familiar with each other, Mr Chong invited Ms Lee to become his altar’s “toh- thao” (medium’s interpreter) in August this year.

After Ms Lee took up the job, she began to have the idea that Chong was merely bluffing and deceiving others.

Ms Lee told the reporter that Mr Chong drew exactly the same fortune spell when communicating with Sky Deity（天神） and Yin Deity（阴神）, which are totally different deity spirits.

“He always ask me if I had won the lottery or not, and even questioned me when he pretended to be possessed by the deity.” said Ms Lee.

Asked devotees to buy crab for him, in the name of the deity

Ms Lee added, “He once demanded his devotees to buy crabs for him, in the name of a deity. He claimed that “Ji Gong(济公)” wanted to eat crab. Everyone was puzzled. Was crab ever favoured by Deity Ji Gong?

“He also asked devotees to make offerings in form of alcohol and cigarettes to show their devotion.”

Ms Lee later learned that the spirit medium even offers massages to his female devotees, pulling up their clothes and touching their bodies in the process.

She shared that Mr Chong once gave a massage to a female devotee while “possessed by a deity”. But after the ritual, Chong was able to discuss about the tattoo on her back.

“If he was supposed to be possessed by a deity at the time, how could he see that? He was obviously molesting her.”

Ms Lee further claimed that she herself was also a victim of sexual harassment.

She said she suffers from long-term spinal pain, and Chong took advantage of that in an attempt to molest her.

On one occasion, Mr Chong insisted to massage her to relieve her pain, but his hand was moving downwards and almost reaching her hip.

Ms Lee stopped him and later lodged a police complaint against him.

In October, Ms Lee expressed her wish to quit the altar, but Mr Chong alluded to other assistants that Ms Lee might enter the Intensive Care Unit for medical treatment and her father will come back to ask for his help.

“This was too much. I want to expose him in hope that no one will be deceived by him again.”

In response to media queries, Singapore police confirmed that they had received the complaint and are currently investigating the matter.

Spirit-medium denies allegation

When asked for comments, Mr Chong denied all accusations by Ms Lee. While he claims that Ms Lee is trying to make his life difficult because she holds a grudge against him, he declined to elaborate further on the matter.

He claims that he never had bad intentions for his devotees and there are always two other assistants on site whenever he gives a massage.

As to the offerings from devotees, he said these offerings were contributed by them voluntarily, out of thankfulness to the deity.

“The crab is not for me, “Ji Gong” helped the devotee, and all he asked is a crab as a form of gratitude,” said Mr Chong.

“I communicate and be possessed by the deity spirits, “Ji Gong” and “Heibai Wuchang”.

“There is no 100% deity possession as you will still retain 30% of your conscious, while 70 per cent is taken up by the deity spirit,” he explained to the reporter regarding the claim by Ms Lee that he was able to see the tattoo on female devotee’s back while being possessed.

Borrowing money from altar assistant

47-year-old Mr Leong, another altar assistant who works as bus driver, believes that Mr Chong has long-term financial issues.

“Every time he asks to borrow $100 or 200 from me. He once borrowed S$1300 from me, and borrowed S$1400 from another altar assistant. There must be a problem. While he did return the money at the end but not within the promised period of time. ”

Mr Leong said such loans took place seven times in a year, with amounts ranging from a few hundred to over a thousand SGD. He added that he had confronted the medium on 5 November over the issue of money together with five other assistants.

A quarrel took place with Mr Leong lodging a police report.

Against Mr Leong’s claims, the medium does admit to the loans that he took.

However, he said, “but I returned all the money every time I borrowed, I did not owe anyone money. I will lodge a police complaint too. ”

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Crime

Singaporean fugitive deported from Thailand, to be charged with drug trafficking

A Singaporean fugitive arrested in Thailand, was deported to Singapore on 19 September 2024 and faces drug trafficking charges. Authorities expect him to face the death penalty under Singapore’s tough drug laws for running a smuggling operation between Thailand, Australia, and Singapore.

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19 September 2024

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A 31-year-old Singaporean man, wanted for drug trafficking offences, was arrested in Thailand and deported to Singapore on 19 September 2024.

The fugitive, identified as Benny Kee Soon Chuan, was apprehended by Thai police at his residence near Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and will face charges in court on 20 September.

Kee, described as a high-level trafficker, ran a smuggling operation that trafficked crystal methamphetamine, ketamine, and Ecstasy to Australia and Singapore using Thailand as a transit hub, according to Pol Lt Gen Panurat Lakboon, secretary-general of Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).

Cross-Border Investigation and Arrest

The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) of Singapore had issued an arrest warrant for Kee following investigations into two drug trafficking cases in December 2020 and November 2022.

He had been on the run since 11 April 2016, prompting CNB to collaborate with its international counterparts, including the ONCB. Thai authorities were tipped off by CNB on 12 August 2024, and after weeks of investigation, Kee was apprehended on 17 September.

Thai immigration officials revealed that Kee had entered Thailand earlier in 2024 using a Vanuatu passport.

Following his arrest, Kee’s Thai visa was cancelled, and assets worth 15 million baht (S$585,000), including luxury watches, gold pieces, and a luxury car, were seized during a raid on his residence in Samut Prakan.

Lt Gen Panurat confirmed that the fugitive had been living an affluent lifestyle in Thailand despite lacking legitimate employment.

Links to Broader Drug Network

Kee is believed to be linked to other Singaporean traffickers involved in the smuggling of drugs from Thailand.

In March 2021, Thailand’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons Task Force (AITF) intercepted packages containing Ecstasy and ketamine destined for Singapore, as well as crystal methamphetamine bound for Australia.

Two other Singaporean men, aged 21 and 29 at the time of their arrests, were later sentenced to imprisonment and caning in Singapore for their involvement in these operations, which were connected to Kee’s trafficking network.

Death Penalty Under Singaporean Law

Kee’s deportation to Singapore brings him under the jurisdiction of Singapore’s severe drug laws, which prescribe the death penalty for those convicted of trafficking substantial amounts of controlled substances.

Singaporean authorities have indicated that he could face the death penalty under the country’s strict drug trafficking laws. Pol Lt Gen Panurat indicated that Singaporean authorities are expected to seek the maximum penalty for Kee’s alleged offences.

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Arts & Culture

Epigram Books to close SAM bookshop amid low sales and footfall

Epigram Books will shut down its bookshop at the Singapore Art Museum on 26 January 2025, citing low sales and foot traffic. The independent bookstore, known for supporting local authors, will continue to operate its online store, but its future in brick-and-mortar retail is uncertain.

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3 hours ago

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19 September 2024

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Epigram Books, a major supporter of Singaporean literature, will close its Epigram Coffee Bookshop at the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) on 26 January 2025.

The decision comes after years of struggling with low sales and foot traffic at the Tanjong Pagar Distripark location, marking the end of the bookstore’s three-year lease.

The announcement on 19 September follows Times Bookstores’ closure of its final outlet in Holland Road, highlighting the growing challenges faced by brick-and-mortar bookstores in Singapore.

Edmund Wee, publisher at Epigram Books, expressed disappointment, stating: “We tried everything to make this work. Over the past three years, we’ve often asked ourselves, how many people even knew our bookstore existed here, let alone visited?”

Despite efforts to boost traffic, including operating shuttles to increase accessibility, the bookstore struggled to attract visitors consistently.

Epigram Coffee Bookshop, previously located at the Urban Redevelopment Authority Centre on Maxwell Road and later in a pop-up at Beach Road, relocated to SAM in May 2022 in partnership with Balestier Market Collective.

The 20-seater store featured towering shelves showcasing local and Southeast Asian titles, including books from other independent publishers like Ethos Books and Math Paper Press.

However, the location’s industrial setting, which only saw spikes in visitors during major exhibitions like Olafur Eliasson’s, limited consistent footfall.

The closure coincides with the end of Eliasson’s exhibit on 22 September 2024. Although the exhibition provided a temporary boost to the bookshop’s sales, Epigram noted that the increased traffic was short-lived.

Epigram’s future in physical retail remains uncertain. Mr Wee indicated that high rental costs make reopening a physical store unlikely: “Unless rent prices relent, it’s unlikely we’ll move into another space.”

Epigram Books has been a significant presence in Singapore’s independent book scene, promoting local authors and holding literary events.

The bookshop was also a community hub for the literary arts, hosting numerous book launches and events supporting local writers. “These spaces are special to our literary arts community. They’re where book lovers gather, where literary events and book launches happen in support of our writers,” said Mr Wee.

Despite the closure of the SAM store, Epigram will continue to operate its online store. The publisher emphasized the need for continued support from readers: “We’ve come this far with everyone’s support, and we look forward to continued support from our readers as we transition to focus on online sales.”

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