Malaysian charged with taking $8,000 from Chew Eng Han to help him flee Singapore
A third man who allegedly assisted former City Harvest Church leader Chew Eng Han’s attempt to flee Singapore was charged in the State Courts on Wednesday (28 February).
Khoo Kea Leng, 45, a Malaysian, was charged with one count of abetting Chew to leave Singapore illegally last Tuesday (20 February), by conspiring with him to leave Singapore from an unauthorised place of departure and collecting $8,000 from him as payment.
Khoo, who appeared in court dressed in a black shirt and orange floral shorts, told the court that his family had arrived from Malaysia to see him.
He will be remanded for a week to assist in investigations and will be back in court on 7 March.
Khoo was arrested in Malaysia with the assistance of the Royal Malaysia Police and handed over to the Singapore Police Force on Monday (26 February).
Khoo allegedly met Chew, 57, in a car at a carpark near Block 75 Marine Drive last Tuesday to discuss the escape plan.
Chew, who was arrested last Wednesday, had allegedly paid Khoo the money to escape from Pulau Ubin in a motorised sampan.
He was due to begin serving his jail term of three years and four months a day after his arrest for his role in misappropriating some $50 million in City Harvest Church funds. He was ordered by the Court of Appeal on Tuesday (27 February) to begin serving his sentence after his one-week remand for the current offence ends.
Another two persons, a boatman piloting Chew’s boat, and Chew’s elder brother, were also arrested for abetting Chew to leave Singapore illegally.
Toh Poh Teck, 53, was charged in court on the same day as Chew, while Chew’s 61-year-old brother Chew Eng Soon is out on bail. He has not been charged in court.
Those found guilty of abetting a person to leave Singapore illegally can be jailed for six months to two years, and be fined up to $6,000.
Related stories:
Malaysian suspect allegedly met Chew Eng Han at Marine Drive carpark to discuss escape plan
Chew Eng Han to start jail term after remand period: Court of Appeal
Third man arrested over Chew Eng Han’s attempted sampan escape
Elder brother of Chew Eng Han out on bail over ex-City Harvest leader’s escape attempt
City Harvest saga: Chew Eng Han and accomplice charged over failed attempt to leave Singapore
