Singapore to Keep Track of Gold Inventory in Temples

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth in Singapore announced that the government has decided to keep track of gold items held by Hindu temples in the country.

The Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) will take appropriate steps to ensure movements of gold items within the four Hindu temples managed by it. It will carry out a strict assessment of gold inventories in these temples and monitor their status on a regular basis.

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The action follows alleged misappropriating and pawning of temple gold jewellery by a former Indian temple chief priest, recently. The former chief priest was alleged of misappropriating 172 pieces of jewellery from the 149-year-old Sri Mariamman Temple over a period of four years from 2016 to 2020.

According to the Minister, HEB has been ordered to conduct routine audits at all the four temples. The Board had carried out a special audit of gold inventory at all its temples, after the incident at Sri Mariamman Temple. It will continue to work with each of the temple management committees to ensure strict implementation of government controls. Furthermore, it will collaborate with the Commissioner of Charities to strengthen internal controls.