Sun Ho embarked on singing career following a ‘miracle’: City Harvest church founder Kong Hee

The Crossover Project idea to use pop singer Sun Ho in City Harvest Church’s evangelical movement was conceived during Kong Hee’s trip to Taiwan in 1999, the church founder said while taking the stand for the first time in the fifth tranche of the trial on Monday.

Kong, who was conducting church services in the country, explained that he saw mainly “aging church members”, and was told that the young people in Taiwan were only interested in “[pop] entertainment”.

The idea of God did not “appeal” to them, discovered Kong, who is one of the six leaders accused of misappropriating more than $50 million worth of church funds. He is currently facing three charges for criminal breach of trust.  

His discovery during the trip led to the idea of inserting gospel into pop music and had his wife Sun Ho to help with the lyrics.

The songs were “well-received” among church members said Kong, who claimed that it was a “miracle”.

In April 2001, the album production for Sun Ho’s first album “Sun with Love” began under a music production company owned by an Eric Ng.

In July 2001, music videos were made and they were used to enter “the world of MTV [Music Television]”, said Kong.

Three albums were launched between April 2002 and October 2003. The latter two were titled “Sun*Day” and “Lonely Travel”. Kong added that the second album went “double platinum” under the Record Industry Association of Singapore (RIAS).

The term “Crossover Project” was not yet used when the first album was in production, but its objective to “share the love of God” through pop music was “clear”, he said.

In one of the exhibits presented by the defense counsel, it was stated that Sun Ho had donated $40,000 worth of her music royalties to two charities – Ren Ci Hospital and Medicare Centre and the National Council of Churches Childrens’ Funds.

Kong said that the church members had “supported” Sun Ho’s singing career and also allowed her to continue drawing salary from City Harvest Church.

First two albums sponsored by church member Wahju Hanafi
 
It was Wahju Hanafi, the owner of glassware firm Firna, who had paid for the production of the first two albums.

Kong Hee shared that Wahju had been a member of the church since the early 1990s. Between 1991 and 1992, Wahju “responded to the gospel” and became a “fervent” member.

Wahju had gone to him “in tears”, saying,” I want to support the Crossover Project…whatever the cost,” Kong said. Wahju was further described as “a man of his words” and a “consistent” and “biggest donor”.

Email correspondence not presented in open court

Towards the end of the morning session, prosecution raised concerns over an email correspondence made between church lawyer Desmond Ong and accused leader Chew Eng Han.

“Your Honour is aware that there has been previous correspondence between Mr Ong and Mr Chew on the issue of legally privileged documents.  Now in the most recent letter, Mr Ong asserts that Mr Chew is in possession of documents over which his clients claim legal privilege, including documents not as yet tendered to parties,” prosecution said.

They were concerned with the possibility that the email correspondence could result in a “satellite litigation” which will further delay the trial.

Ong has been put on “notice” that he has to make submissions in open court.