Tears flow as packed court hears verdict on City Harvest appeal

SINGAPORE — A blaze of camera flashes greeted City Harvest Church (CHC) senior pastor Kong Hee and five former church leaders on Friday morning as they arrived at the Supreme Court building to hear the outcome of their appeals against their prior convictions and sentences for misappropriating S$50.6 million in church funds.

As they entered the packed courtroom and filed into the docks, many spectators craned their necks for a better look. Some members of the public, like Madame Ellen Kwee, had queued for hours to get a seat for the long-awaited hearing.

The six betrayed no emotions as Judge of Appeal Chao Hick Tin began reading the oral judgement of a three-judge panel at about 9.30am.

But as it became clear that their convictions would be upheld, albeit with their jail sentences reduced, some supporters who sat in the audience broke down in tears. Others wore a look of visible disappointment on their faces.

Kong, 52, had his sentence cut to three years and six months, while former CHC fund manager Chew Eng Han, 56, had his term reduced to three years and four months, down from six years. Deputy senior pastor Tan Ye Peng, 44, got three years and two months, down from 5 years and six months.

Former CHC finance manager Serina Wee, 40, had her term cut to two years and six months, down from five years; whereas former CHC finance committee member John Lam, 49, was sentenced to one year and six months, reduced from three years. Former CHC finance manager Sharon Tan, 41, received the shortest sentence of seven months' jail instead of the original 21 months term.

Kong was in court only with his lawyers, with his wife Sun Ho noticeably absent. In October 2015, the six were found guilty of misusing church funds to finance Ms Ho's pop music career via the church’s Crossover Project, which aimed to use her music to evangelise.

All six appealed against their convictions and sentences in a five-day hearing last September. At the same time, prosecutors also appealed for longer sentences of five to 12 years’ jail for the six former leaders who were convicted of varying counts of criminal breach of trust and falsification of accounts.

Wee and Sharon Tan were teary-eyed as they left the courtroom after the judgement was read out.

Outside the courtroom, small groups of supporters from the church gathered in hushed discussions. Some were in tears while others tried to comfort their friends. They declined to comment on Friday's proceedings.

"While we are deeply saddened by this decision, we thank God for the shorter sentences," CHC said in a statement on its website.

Lam, Kong, Wee and Tan Ye Peng will get two weeks’ deferment to enjoy Easter before serving their sentences. Sharon Tan’s lawyer had asked for, and got, a two month deferment because her family is moving to the US.

Chew, on the other hand, has two weeks to consider if he wishes to bring the case up to the apex court.

Kong, in a Facebook post, wrote: "While the conviction being upheld is not what I have hoped for, I am grateful that the sentence has been reduced."