SINGAPORE - The police on Tuesday issued a statement regarding the
arrest of five persons from City Harvest Church for criminal breach
of trust and false accounting after investigations by Commercial
Affairs Department's (CAD) investigations were conducted.
Below are the comments from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for
Home Affairs, Teo Chee Hean, on the case:
"I would like to stress that the charges filed by CAD are against
five individuals from the City Harvest Church (CHC) regarding the
use of Church funds. They are not filed against CHC itself. The CHC
is free to continue its church services and activities.
"CAD carries out investigations when it receives information that a
criminal offence may have been committed. CAD had previously
investigated the National Kidney Foundation and Ren Ci.
"As the matter is now before the courts, we should let the law take
its course and avoid speculation or making pre-judgements that may
unnecessarily stir up emotions."
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120626-355493.html
City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee and four others, including
former board members, were arrested on Tuesday morning following a
probe into financial irregularities of the church by both the
police and the Commissioner of Charities (CoC).
Among other things, the CoC found financial irregularities of at
least $23 million from the church funds. Its spokesman said the
funds were used with the purported intention to finance the wife of
pastor Kong, Ms Ho Yeow Sun's secular music career to connect with
people.
'There was a concerted effort to conceal this movement of funds
from its stakeholders,' said the CoC spokesman.
Read also:
Charges filed by CAD against individuals, not the
church: DPM Teo
In a statement, the police named the five: church founder Kong Hee,
his deputy, Mr Tan Ye Peng, former board member, John Lam Leng
Hung, church investment manager Chew Eng Han, and church finance
manager Sharon Tan Shao Yuen.
Two years ago, on May 31 2010, the Commercial Affairs Department
(CAD) started an investigation into certain financial transactions
of CHC after receiving information of misuse of CHC funds.
A police spokesman said that after a thorough investigation, the
five would be charged with being in a conspiracy to commit criminal
breach of trust as an agent. If convicted, each of them could be
jailed for life and fined.
Mr Tan, Mr Chew and Ms Sharon Tan, will also be charged with
conspiracy to falsify accounts. If convicted, each could be jailed
up to 10 years and fined. All five will be charged in court on
Wednesday.
In a separate statement, a spokesman for the CoC said it had
launched an inquiry into the church on May 31, 2010 under the
Charities Act.
Its inquiry revealed misconduct and mismanagement in the
administration of the church, particularly in relation to the funds
that were in the Building Fund which had been raised and earmarked
for specific purposes.
The CoC spokesman said: 'The COC is concerned about the misconduct
and mismanagement in the administration of the Charity.'
With immediate effect, it has suspended the five - along with three
others, from holding any post on the church board of management.
The three are: executive members Ho Yeow Sun, Kelvin Teo Meng How
and Tan Su Pheng Jacqueline. They will be prohibited from taking
part or being involved in managing the church, representing it in
any matters, or attending any of its Annual General Meetings,
Extraordinary General Meetings and Board meetings.
The CoC spokesman added that it will also consider taking further
courses of action under the Charities Act against these individuals
in order to protect the charitable property of 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.'
http://www.straitstimes.com/The-Big-Story/The-Big-Story-1/Story/STIStory_815169.html
