SINGAPORE — Former City Harvest Church investment manager Chew Eng Han began his defence today (Jan 26) in the long-running trial of six church leaders for alleged misappropriation of church funds.
Chew, who is facing 10 charges of criminal breach of trust and falsification of accounts, said he broke away from the other accused in 2013 because “the story cooked up was not the truth”. He questioned how he, as the church’s fund manager, could have extensive responsibility over the use of church funds, as the other accused have contended.
Chew said it was senior pastor Kong Hee and his deputy Tan Ye Peng — two of his co-accused — who controlled decisions of Xtron Productions, which managed the career of Kong’s wife, pop singer Ho Yeow Sun.
But he said Kong and Tan exercising control over Xtron by appointing trusted church members as Xtron directors was not improper. It would be reckless not to do so, given the significant funds placed by the church with Xtron, he argued.
The accused persons allegedly misused S$24 million in church building funds for Ms Ho’s career through sham bonds, and another S$26.6 million to cover up the first amount.
Chew argued that whether the bonds were a sham — as the prosecution charges — depended on whether each of the accused believed the returns for their investment were going to come in.
Taking the witness stand and representing himself, Chew told the court he was disappointed with Kong and Tan after the raid by the Commercial Affairs Department on May 31, 2010, when they doubted the legality of the financial transactions after the church’s then-lawyer Jimmy Yim “proclaimed judgment” on them.
The trial continues.
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