SINGAPORE — A 42-year-old Malaysian man has been arrested for allegedly aiding in former City Harvest Church (CHC) fund manager Chew Eng Han's attempt to flee the country in February.

Tan Kim Ho was arrested in Malaysia on Friday (April 13) by the Royal Malaysian Police and handed over to the Singapore authorities the next day, the Singapore Police Force said in a statement on Sunday (April 15). He will be charged in court on Monday.

With Tan's arrest, the police dragnet of Chew's alleged accomplices has now extended to four. Boatman Tan Poh Teck, Chew's older brother Eng Soon and Malaysian Khoo Kea Leng were earlier caught. Khoo, 46, was sentenced to six months' jail last Thursday after he admitted to abetting Chew, by engaging in a conspiracy with him on February 20 to leave Singapore from Pulau Ubin, which is an unauthorised point of departure.

The police did not provide details of Tan Kim Ho's role, but he was named in Khoo's court documents. Khoo had contacted him to ask if he knew of anyone who could help Chew, 57, to flee the country.

Tan Kim Ho was said to have replied that he could arrange for Chew – who was convicted along with five others of misappropriating church funds and/or falsification of accounts – to leave Singapore illegally via a boat for S$8,000.

Khoo told Chew of this arrangement, and they agreed on paying S$12,000 for Chew to flee Singapore.

Khoo would keep S$4,000 for himself, give S$4,000 to Tan Kim Ho, also known as Rayson, and pay the boatman Tan Poh Teck S$4,000 for taking Chew to Malaysia.

The boatman has been charged with abetting Chew to flee the country, as well as allegedly assisting another man to illegally leave Singapore.

According to court documents, Tan Kim Ho allegedly advised Chew to prepare a cap and fishing equipment so it seemed like he was going fishing — in order to avoid detection.

On Sunday, Commander of the Police Coast Guard Hsu Sin Yun thanked his Malaysian counterparts for their "swift efforts in locating and arresting the suspect".

Chew has begun serving his jail term of three years and four months for the offences related to church funds. He faces charges for leaving Singapore for Malaysia from the Pulau Ubin jetty, which is not an authorised place of embarkation or point of departure, as well as for attempting to defeat the course of justice by allegedly trying to flee the country illegally on Feb 21.

His brother, who was arrested but has not been charged, is out on police bail.