City Harvest Church trial: Kong Hee jailed eight years

The six convicted City Harvest Church leaders were jailed between 21 months and eight years on Friday (Nov 20).

Church founder, Kong Hee, 51, got the longest sentence of eight years.

This was followed by deputy senior pastor Tan Ye Peng, 42, who was jailed 5 1/2 years and former fund manager, Chew Eng Han, 55, who was jailed six years.

Former finance manager Serina Wee, 38, was jailed five years.

Former finance committee member John Lam, 47, was jailed three years and another former finance manager, Sharon Tan, 40, got the lightest sentence of 21 months' jail.

Bail has been extended and they will serve their sentence from Jan 11, next year.

Earlier in the day, during sentencing submission, lawyers for the six convicted City Harvest Church leaders said that they had no intention of gaining personally from their crimes.

So, their sentences should not be pegged to the amount of money involved.

The prosecution submitted that Kong Hee, should be jailed between 11 and 12 years.

Kong's lawyer, Mr Edwin Tong, argued this was out of sync and based on circumstances entirely different from the present case. 

But Deputy Public Prosecutor Christopher Ong disagreed, saying: "Had this case been motivated by personal gain, the sentences the prosecution is asking for today would be far higher."

He later added we would descend into chaos if the misuse of charity funds was whitewashed as a mere misstep.

Kong and former finance committee member John Lam, 47, were each convicted of three charges of criminal breach of trust.

Deputy senior pastor Tan Ye Peng, 42, former fund manager Chew Eng Han, 55, and former finance manager Serina Wee, 38, were each convicted of six charges of criminal breach of trust and four charges of falsifying accounts.

Another former finance manager, Sharon Tan, 40, was convicted of three charges of criminal breach of trust and four charges of falsifying accounts.

The penalty for criminal breach of trust is a life sentence, or up to 20 years in jail and a fine. 

For falsifying accounts, the penalty is a maximum 10 years' jail, a fine, or both.

Read the full report in our print edition on Nov 21. 
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John Lam arriving to court TNP PHOTO: NG JUN SEN

Sharon Tan (on left) TNP PHOTO: NG JUN SEN

Tan Ye Peng TNP PHOTO: NG JUN SEN