Zhenlan Palace built a golden Mazu with gold medals donated by believers.

(file photo)

[Reporter Ou Sumei / Taichung Report] Many years ago, the Zhenlan Palace in Dajia had more than a million gold medals, large and small, cast and carved into a 4.2-foot-high "Golden Mazu" with a weight of more than 270 kilograms. The Mazu Museum in the basement has become a treasure of the town temple. However, at the end of last year, the public reported to the Taichung District Office that the "Golden Mazu" was not pure gold. The 10-year prosecution period did not lead to prosecution, but it was also confirmed that the "Jin Mazu" was not made of pure gold, and the interior was made of copper; Yan Qingbiao emphasized that "Jin Mazu" was made of pure gold and could definitely stand the test.

The investigation content of the local prosecutor's office pointed out that the public reported that the Zhenlan Palace claimed that the "Golden Mazu" was made of 120 million yuan, but the "Golden Mazu" was not pure gold, and the gold used did not reach 270 kilograms. More than 20 million yuan was paid to the manufacturer, and Yan Qingbiao, the chairman of Zhenlan Palace, was questioned on charges of fraud, embezzlement and breach of trust.

After investigation by the District Prosecutor's Office, Zhenlan Palace entrusted Ke Jianhua to build the "Golden Mazu", and hired Shi Jingwen, a third-party mold manufacturer, to help. The District Attorney's Office summoned witnesses Cai Daxiong, Ke Jianhua, Shi Jingwen, and Zheng Mingkun, the vice chairman of Zhenlan Palace. Shi Jingwen It was confirmed that the "Golden Mazu" was made of solid copper, and it was commissioned by an unknown friend of the surname Zhuang to make the "Golden Mazu" golden body.

Ke Jianhua confessed to the prosecutor that he received only more than 3 million yuan for the work of "Jin Mazu", not more than 20 million yuan as claimed by the prosecutor. Because the detailed manufacturing date of "Jin Mazu" was uncertain, the prosecutor pushed through media reports. It is estimated that "Golden Mazu" was exhibited for the first time on the Lantern Festival in 1994. The completion date of production should be between 1991 and 1994. However, the total expenditure of Zhenlan Palace in those years cannot be verified. For the expenses under the subject, Zhenlan Palace did not provide relevant records or contracts such as the resolutions of the board of directors, so it could not be found against the defendant. In addition to the crime of obtaining money by fraud, embezzlement and breach of trust, the criminal law is less than 5 years, and the prosecution period is 10 years. , the public report has exceeded the time limit for prosecution, and no further prosecution can be made.

Yan Qingbiao responded today, pointing out that this was a deliberate malicious report by someone with a heart. At first, the "Golden Mazu" was made of 276 kilograms of gold. Due to insufficient gold medals donated by believers at that time, the temple also spent more than 30 million to buy gold to build it, saying that "Golden Mazu" is not a Pure gold insults all believers, emphasizing that "Jin Mazu" is made of pure gold, "Can it be faked before the gods?" It definitely stands the test.