The six City Harvest Church figures involved in Singapore’s biggest-ever case of embezzled charity funds – one that saw nearly $50 million sunk into efforts to launch the secular music career of the megachurch founder’s wife – saw their prison sentences dramatically reduced today following an appeal of their conviction.
The results:
- Church founder and senior pastor Kong Hee: From eight years to three years and six months in jail
- Former fund manager Chew Eng Han: From six years to three years and four months in jail
- Deputy pastor Tan Ye Peng: From five and a half years to three years and two months in jail
- Former finance manager Serina Wee: From five years to two years and six months in jail
- Former finance committee member John Lam: From three years to one year and six months in jail
- Former finance manager Sharon Tan: From 21 months to seven months in jail
The outcome of the appeal is understandably surprising to the public, which had watched in fascination as the church’s dirty laundry was aired in spectacular fashion in 2013, as it was revealed the bilked millions had been squandered on a (failed) attempt to turn church founder Kong Hee’s wife, Sun Ho, into a pop star.
The hearing was held this morning following a five-day appeal heard in September last year, with the reduced sentences meted out by a three-judge panel. The prosecution filed an appeal against the “manifestly inadequate” sentences, intending to push for heavier sentences against the six convicted leaders. It’s safe to presume they’re exceptionally unhappy with today’s outcome.
They weren’t the only ones though, as netizens were swift to condemn what they saw as a preposterous ruling.
The sentence today concludes a case that’s been dragging on for four years, since 52-year-old Kong and the five other church leaders were dragged to court over varying charges of criminal breach of trust and falsification of accounts.
Originally charged in 2013, the six were subsequently found guilty of all charges and sentenced in 2015. The misappropriated funds were used for Sun Ho’s efforts to cross over from Christian music to mainstream pop. The initiative — called the Crossover Project — was aimed to attract non-Christians through her songs and spread the Gospel. All her songs did, however, was to cause us to question which deity would allow such an awful fusion of Asian-Reggae to exist.
$24 million of church funds diverted into sham investments were used to foot the bill of Ho’s lavish lifestyle and budding career, while another $26 million was used to cover up the fact that the initial money had been used for an unauthorised purpose. The megachurch’s congregation — numbering in the tens of thousands — had no idea that their donations were used for illicit purposes.
Not that it mattered. Despite his conviction, CHC members remained steadfast in their loyalty to Kong — evident from the numerous supporters who queued up overnight outside the Supreme Court to secure seats in the courtroom.
Right now, Kong Hee and co are probably celebrating with some good old China Wine and all the peanut butter in the world.
