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Serina Wee steals limelight in City Harvest trial

City Harvest Church's former finance manager Serina Wee leaves on a lunch break during the first day of the resumed trial at the subordinate courts in Singapore on August 26, 2013. Trial resumed for the leaders of a Singapore-based Christian church accused of embezzling millions of dollars to finance the singing career of the pastor's wife.

One of the biggest and most talked about corruption trials in recent years, the City Harvest Church trial has attracted lots of drama and attention.

In late June 2012, state prosecutors charged City Harvest Church's (CHC) senior pastor and founder Kong Hee, 48, as well as five other church leaders --  pastor Tan Ye Peng, who also serves as vice-chairman of the church board, its chairman Lam Leng Hung, executive members Sharon Tan Shao Yuen, former church member Chew Eng Han and ex-finance manager Serina Wee Gek Yin — with varying degrees of involvement in a scheme to siphon off S$24 million from the church's building fund to finance the singing career of Kong's wife Ho Yeow Sun, better known as Sun Ho.

In addition, more than S$26.6 million in church monies was allegedly misappropriated to cover up the original diversion.

While it's Sun Ho's music career -- complete with superstar friends and a fittingly glamourous lifestyle -- that the group sought to promote and upkeep, the heavily made-up China Wine singer didn't attract the most attention during the two tranches of the trial so far.



Instead, it was ex-finance manager Serina Wee who stole the limelight with her sultry looks and fashionable, stylish dressing.

During the course of the two tranches of the trial so far this year, netizens and onlookers eagerly awaited her arrival in, and departure from, court each day.

Separately, the Commissioner of Charities (COC) deferred removal proceedings of eight CHC leaders from their positions in the Singapore megachurch until after the trial against six of them. Five of the accused, excluding former CHC fund manager Chew Eng Han, as well as Kelvin Teo Meng How and Tan Su Pheng Jacqueline, promised to avoid taking up management and executive roles, and to remain suspended from their initially-held posts.

Chew left the church near the end of June but submitted representations to the charity watchdog ahead of its deadline.

The third tranche of the trial will begin in early 2014 — and you can bet Serina fans will be eagerly anticipating the arrival of their queen in court.