Blog Asian Artists

Dec 27th 2012, 01:32

Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan on Tuesday denied allegations that his charity, the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation Beijing (JCCFB), is involved in charity fraud, reported Chinese media.

Chinese columnist Zhou Xiaoyun claimed Monday that the China Charities Aid Foundation for Children's (CCAFC) latest financial statements indicate that it had transferred 18 of the 19 million yuan (S$3.72 million) earmarked for programmes to help kidnapped children, to the JCCFB.

The money was later used to fund JCCFB's programme to assist disadvantaged children will serious illnesses instead.

Zhou questioned the purpose of the transfer and also asked why the money was not used as it was intended.

He believed the transfer was done to benefit the JCCFB staff, which he claims take a 10 per cent cut of the money as management fees.

However, Chan flatly denied these allegations over his micro blog on Tuesday.

"My charitable foundation does not charge any management fees. All operating costs are borne by me alone. I don't know if there are still any foundations in the world that have zero operating costs," said Chan.

"I am grateful for the public's scrutiny, but hope that concrete proof is presented before conclusions are made. Otherwise, these allegations will mislead everyone, and cause a lot of those who wish to do charity to back away."

"If there is anyone who is using charity to do illegal things, he should be sent jail."

Chan, who has been traveling the globe recently to promote his new film "CZ12", is no stranger to controversy.

Earlier this month, he attracted criticism after describing Hong Kong as a "city of protest" in an interview with Hong Kong media, as well as appearing to support placing restrictions on protests in Hong Kong.

He had also told reporters about how he had confronted gangsters in Hong Kong with "guns and grenades" in his early years.

Chan's "guns and grenades" tale ended up sparking off a police probe, as carrying firearms without a license is illegal in Hong Kong.

In both cases, Chan explained that his words had been "misunderstood" by the media.

Source: Channelnewsasia