City Harvest Church management 'disappointed' by verdict: Sun Ho
City Harvest Church's management are "disappointed" by the guilty verdict a judge handed down Wednesday against senior pastor Kong Hee and five others for criminal breach of trust and falsifying accounts.
This was said by CHC co-founder and executive director Ho Yeow Sun, who is Kong's wife and is more popularly known as Sun Ho, in a statement Wednesday morning on behalf of the church's management board.
"The judge has rendered his decision and, naturally, we are disappointed by the outcome," Sun Ho said, noting that Kong and the others were "studying the judgment intently and will take legal advice from their respective lawyers in the days to come".
"As was the case throughout these past three years of court trial, and the earlier two years of investigation, we have placed our faith in God and trust that whatever the outcome," she said.
Sun Ho also expressed thanks for members' "unwavering faithfulness in loving God and loving one another", and said she and Kong were "humbled by the tremendous outpouring of love and support shown to us during this time".
Kong, deputy pastor Tan Ye Peng, finance manager Sharon Tan, former finance manager Serina Wee, and former board members John Lam and Chew Eng Han were accused of misusing $24 million of church money to finance the music career of Ho Yeow Sun, Kong’s wife, in the United States.
Another $26.6 million was also said to have been used to cover it up through two companies, Xtron and Firna, which are both owned by CHC supporters.
Judge See Kee Oon found the six guilty of all the charges against them. He announced the verdict in a packed courtroom that included many members of the megachurch, one of the largest Protestant churches in Singapore.
"More than ever before, let’s have a unity that is unbreakable. We are not alone as many of our friends and churches around the world are also interceding fervently for us. God knows the way that we take; when He has tested us, we shall come forth as gold (Job 23:10)," Sun Ho said.
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