Photo: Clockwise, from top left – Kong Hee, Tan Ye Peng, Serina Wee, John Lam, Chew Eng Han and Sharon Tan, on Feb 1, 2018, ST File
City Harvest Church (CHC) was one of Singapore’s largest and most influential megachurches, founded by Kong Hee in 1989. Over the years, CHC gained a massive following, boasting tens of thousands of members and engaging in high-profile charity and music projects. However, what started as a thriving religious institution soon became the center of one of the country’s most infamous financial scandals.
The Crossover Project
In the early 2000s, Kong Hee and his church leaders launched the Crossover Project, an initiative meant to use pop music as a means to evangelize Christianity. Kong’s wife, Sun Ho, was positioned as the face of this movement, producing pop music videos and even breaking into the U.S. entertainment scene. However, the funding for this venture was soon called into question.
Investigation and Charges
In 2010, the Commissioner of Charities and the Commercial Affairs Department began an investigation into CHC’s finances. Authorities uncovered that S$50 million in church funds had been misappropriated—S$24 million was illegally funneled into sham bonds to fund Sun Ho’s music career, while another S$26 million was used to cover up the initial fraud. The scandal triggered an outcry, with many church members feeling betrayed.
In 2012, six church leaders, including Kong Hee, were arrested and charged with criminal breach of trust and falsification of accounts. The accused were:
- Kong Hee (Senior Pastor)
- Tan Ye Peng (Deputy Senior Pastor)
- Serina Wee (Finance Manager)
- John Lam (Church Board Member)
- Chew Eng Han (Investment Manager)
- Sharon Tan (Finance Manager)
The Court Battle
The trial, which lasted for over 140 days, was one of the longest and most expensive white-collar crime cases in Singapore’s history. Prosecutors argued that the accused deliberately misused church donations under false pretenses. Defense lawyers claimed that the leaders acted in good faith and believed they were furthering the church’s mission.
Sentencing and Aftermath
In 2015, all six church leaders were found guilty and handed jail sentences ranging from 21 months to 8 years. Kong Hee received the longest sentence at 8 years, though his term was later reduced to 3 years and 6 months after appeal. The case left a lasting impact on Singapore’s religious institutions, leading to stricter financial regulations for charities and churches.
Despite the convictions, City Harvest Church continues to operate, though its influence was said to have diminished significantly. The scandal remains one of Singapore’s most high-profile corruption cases, raising questions about financial accountability within religious organizations.
Comments by the Minister for Law
Expressing his disappointment by the Court of Appeal’s decision to overrule a 1976 High Court decision, which had held that company directors could be convicted for criminal breach of trust under section 409 of the Penal Code, Minister for Law K Shanmugam said, “The government believes the sentences are too low. But the sentences reflect the law as it stands after the High Court’s decision last year confirmed by the Court of Appeal. The courts decide these matters. All of us have to respect the decision regardless of whether we agree or disagree with it.”
“It is now up to Parliament to amend the law, and that we should do soon. We will ensure that legislation provides for higher penalties for directors and other senior officers who commit criminal breach of trust,” he added.
Source: BBC News, Straits Times, Wikipedia
🔥Compare The Best Credit Cards in Singapore (SingSaver Promotion)