Hindu temple faces probe

Singapore probes Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple for criminal offences

Singapore, Aug. 22: One of Singapore’s oldest Hindu temples is under investigation over suspected criminal offences, a media report said on Tuesday.

Commercial affairs department is conducting the probe into Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, but it is “inappropriate” to comment further on the investigation, police said.

The commissioner of charities (COC) also said in a statement that it had been notified of the investigation and has also launched its own inquiry into the temple.

“The review identified certain areas of concern with regard to governance and administration, which warrant conducting an inquiry,” Channel News Asia reported citing the statement.

The COC added that it will decide on the next course of action after the inquiry.

In the meantime, religious activities will not be affected and the temple can continue with its operations and daily services, the COC said, adding that measures will be put in place to ensure the temple is properly managed.

The temple at Serangoon Road is a well-known landmark in the Little India area, with about 5,000 devotees on each Sundays and is popular among tourists.

The temple was set up as a trust and obtained charity status in 1988.

The temple, founded by Tamil pioneers in 1835, underwent a two-yearlong, $7-million makeover which was completed in 2014.

It is one of 15 places of worship that have been listed for conservation by the urban redevelopment authority (URA).

The COC started an inquiry under Section 8 of the Charities Act to decide the next court of action following a review that has identified “certain areas of concern” in the temple’s governance and administration.

“The COC, with the assistance of the Hindu Endowments Board, will put in place measures for SVT to ensure that it is properly managed and its religious activities will not be affected during the inquiry,” added COC.

In a separate statement, a spokesman for Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) said it will assist the COC to ensure that temple operations run smoothly.

“Devotees’ interests are paramount in our minds as the COC continues with the investigations,” he said.

The temple was built as a small shrine in 1835 by early Tamil immigrants.

There is no official word on the exact nature of the crime for which the temple is under the COC’s scanner. However, certain clues seem to point to monetary crimes like embezzlement or fraud being at the center of the probe. For example, the COC statement says that the investigation was due to “certain areas of concern with regard to governance and administration.” If the commercial affairs department is now in the mix, some monetary irregularities must be involved. And monetary crimes pertaining to charities generally limit themselves to embezzlement and fraud.