Singapore bans former leaders of City Harvest Church from managing charities

Singapore has permanently banned City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee and five other former church officials from managing any charity.

In a media statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) announced that the Commissioner of Charities (COC) has permanently banned CHC founder Kong Hee and the other church officials having general control and management of any charity.

"It is a pertinent consideration that the offences (they) were convicted of, namely criminal breach of trust and/or falsification of accounts, involve dishonesty and/or deception," the MCCY stated, according to Channel News Asia.

In 2015, Kong as well as John Lam, Tan Ye Peng, Chew Eng Han, Sharon Tan and Serina Wee were convicted of misappropriating S$50 million from CHC's funds. Kong was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment in October that same year, but the Court of Appeal reduced his sentence last month to three-and-a-half years.

The court also reduced the sentences of the five other church officials, noting that their act did not involve any personal gain and they believed they were only advancing the interests of the church.

The order issued by COC means that the six church leaders will no longer be able to hold positions of leadership in a charity.

The COC also issued warning letters to Kelvin Teo Meng How and Tan Su Pheng Jacqueline, who were executive members of the church. It noted that they were comparatively less culpable than the other CHC officials in the mismanagement of the church funds.

The eight individuals have been allowed to continue performing their religious duties. However, the COC issued a new restriction order prohibiting the church from appointing or employing the said individuals without prior approval from the commissioner.

The COC further noted that the previously issued restriction orders prohibiting CHC from paying the legal fees of the six church officials are still in force. It said that the new orders are separate measures that are intended to provide the commissioner with oversight and supervision over the church's charitable assets.

"Good governance, accountability and transparency are fundamental principles for the proper administration of charities. All officers, trustees and employees of charities have to act in the best interests of their charities," said the Commissioner of Charities, Dr. Ang Hak Seng, as reported by The Online Citizen.

"Leaders, especially, have an even greater responsibility to uphold these principles as they are appointed and entrusted by their members. My office will not tolerate any mismanagement or misconduct in the administration of a charity, and will not hesitate to take action against those responsible," he added.