SINGAPORE — If the bond transactions at the centre of a criminal trial
involving six City Harvest Church leaders are indeed a sham, then the
blame must lie with church founder Kong Hee and his deputy Tan Ye Peng,
contended its former fund manager Chew Eng Han (picture) yesterday.
This is because they controlled the use of bond proceeds, which went to
fund the singing career of Kong’s wife Ho Yeow Sun, said Chew as he
took the witness stand for the first day.
Chew, who left City Harvest in 2013 and has no lawyer, said he had
structured the bonds according to market practice and ensured fair
returns to the buyers and issuers. He also said he had little contact
with the church’s auditors and had never conspired to hide the bonds
from them.
The six accused persons face three to 10 charges each.
Kong, Tan Ye Peng, Chew, former accountant Serina Wee and former board
member John Lam are accused of misusing S$24 million of church-building
funds via sham bond investments in two companies, Xtron Productions and
PT The First National Glassware. Xtron was a church-linked entity that
managed Ms Ho’s career, while the latter is an Indonesian glassware
company owned by a church member.
Tan, Chew, Serina Wee and former finance manager Sharon Tan also face
charges for alleged misuse of a further S$26.6 million through a series
of transactions to cover up the first amount.
Chew said he did not understand why the bonds have been called sham.
The only reason why they could be so was that proceeds had been misused
and this would be through decisions Kong and Tan Ye Peng made on Ms Ho’s
English album expenses, which would have caused losses or gains, he
said.
Individuals not involved in these judgment calls cannot be accused of intending to cause losses to the church, Chew argued.
Kong, in his defence last year, said he had done budgeting for Ms Ho’s
English album — part of the church’s Crossover Project to evangelise —
but left its financing to Tan Ye Peng and Chew.
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