Self-styled qigong master hits out at allegations

The self-proclaimed qigong master Wang Lin has responded online that he is a permanent resident of Hong Kong and denied speculation that he went there in late July to evade investigation after he was accused of several wrongdoings.

Wang, who claims to be a master of qigong, a traditional Chinese healing practice, had been at the center of controversies surrounding his "supernatural power," alongside accusations of illegal medical practice, illegal gun ownership, tax evasion and bribery.

Wang said in an interview on Saturday with a woman surnamed Ye, who claimed to be his neighbor in Shenzhen, that he never proclaimed to have supernatural powers and refuted allegations that he made a fortune from treatments.

Zou Yong, an alleged former disciple of Wang, accused him of fraud and filed a lawsuit. However, Wang said in the interview that the allegations he has been facing were "set up" by Zou and that he had been reporting Zou's illegal deeds to authorities since November.

Neither Wang nor Zou could be reached for comment on Thursday.

The Jiangxi Provincial Office of Legislative Affairs denied media reports Wednesday that they would launch a series of formal investigations to probe Wang's misconduct.

However, a press officer surnamed Wu with the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Public Health confirmed to the Global Times that they were investigating Wang's medical practice.