SINGAPORE: Five members of
City Harvest Church (CHC),
including its founder Pastor Kong Hee, have been arrested for alleged criminal
breach of trust and falsification of accounts of the church.
The other four members are
John Tan Yee Peng, Lam Leng Ham, Chew Eng Ham
and Sharon Tan.
The five were questioned by the
Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) on
Tuesday.
Kong Hee was seen leaving the Police Cantonment Complex at 4pm.
The five will be charged in court on Wednesday.
CAD said it commenced an investigation on 31 May 2010 into certain
financial transactions of CHC after receiving information of misuse of church
funds.
The
Commissioner of Charities (COC) began its inquiry into the charity
on the same day under the Charities Act over alleged misconduct and
mismanagement of the building fund which had been raised and earmarked for
specific purposes.
The COC said financial irregularities of at least S$23 million from the
charity's funds had been discovered. These funds were used with the purported
intention to finance the music career of Ho Yeow Sun, who is Pastor Kong's wife
and co-founder of the church.
The COC found that there was a concerted effort to conceal this movement
of funds from the charity's stakeholders, saying it is concerned about the
misconduct and mismanagement in the administration of the charity.
With the consent of the Attorney General, the COC has suspended eight
persons, including the five arrested on Tuesday, from the exercise of their
office or employment as governing board members.
The other three are Ho Yeow Sun, Kelvin Teo Meng How and Tan Su Pheng
Jacqueline.
All eight have been suspended from their executive memberships in the
charity with immediate effect.
The COC said it will also consider taking further courses of action
against these individuals in order to protect the charity. This may include the
removal of these persons from their office as trustee, governing board members,
officers, agents or employees of the charity.
With the suspension, the eight persons will be prohibited from taking
part or being involved in managing or representing the charity on any matters,
or attending any of the charity's Annual General Meetings, Extraordinary
General Meetings and Board Meetings.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee
Hean has stressed that the charges filed by CAD are against the five
individuals from the City Harvest Church regarding the use of church funds.
He said the charges are not filed against CHC itself and the church is
free to continue its church services and activities.
Mr Teo added that CAD carries out investigations when it receives
information that a criminal offense may have been committed.
CAD had previously investigated the National Kidney Foundation and Ren
Ci.
As the matter is now before the courts, Mr Teo said the law should be
allowed to take its course and the public should avoid speculation or making
pre-judgements that may unnecessarily stir up emotions.
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SOURCE:
Channel News Asia
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