SINGAPORE - Venerable Shi Ming Yi, who donated his kidney to a boy from a poor family, was discharged from hospital on Thursday afternoon.

The founder and former head of Ren Ci Hospital had the operation at the National University Hospital this week, Lianhe Wanbao reported.

A young boy from a poor family was the beneficiary, Wanbao said, quoting one of Ven Ming Yi's followers.

It is something he has wanted to do for a few years now, the follower said.

Ven Ming Yi told Wanbao in an SMS that he was doing well, but would only respond to media queries later as he wanted to rest and recuperate.

The monk has kept a low profile since his conviction for misappropriation of funds and falsifying accounts while he was chief executive of Ren Ci Hospital.

He served four months in jail in 2010 and was removed from his posts at Ren Ci.

Prior to the case, he was well-known for performing daring stunts to raise funds for the hospital.

He is reportedly still affiliated with Foo Hai Chan Monastery, which helped set up Ren Ci, but is no longer the Geylang temple's charity trustee and president.

In the past two years, he is said to have spent a lot of time doing charity work in Thailand.