Singapore megachurch leaders sentenced to jail over pop music fraud
The mix of faith and fraud has fascinated Singapore, where such cases are rare.
Senior pastor Kong Hee heads City Harvest Church, one of a growing number of Singapore’s megachurches preaching a “prosperity gospel” that blends spiritual and material aspirations.
Six church officials were convicted last month of diverting nearly S$51m in funds to advance the career of Kong’s wife, Ho Yeow Sun.
They were sentenced yesterday to jail terms of between 21 months and eight years, depending on how involved they were in the fraud.
The jail terms were delayed to January next year, giving the defendants time to appeal.
Kong was arrested in 2012 and charged with criminal breach of trust and falsifying accounts. His wife, the co-founder and executive director of the church, was not charged in the case.
Ho has focused on the Mandarin pop market and has released albums through Warner Music Taiwan.
A video from her English-language single, ‘China Wine’, shows her dancing intimately with rapper Wyclef Jean, sparking criticism that she had betrayed her calling as a Christian pastor.
The promotion of Ho’s secular singing career was aimed at evangelising to non-Christians.
Judge See Kee Oon said a deterrent was needed, but acknowledged they thought they were helping the church and there was no evidence of personal gain.
