Third man arrested over Chew Eng Han's attempted sampan escape
Police have arrested a 45-year-old Malaysian man over former City Harvest Church (CHC) fund manager Chew Eng’s Han’s attempted escape from Singapore via a sampan.
With the assistance of the Royal Malaysia Police, Khoo Kea Leng was arrested in Malaysia pursuant to a warrant of arrest issued by the Singapore State Courts. Khoo was handed over to Singapore authorities on Monday (26 February). He will be charged in court on Wednesday.
Khoo is the third man arrested in relation to Chew’s attempted escape from Singapore to Malaysia last Wednesday morning. Chew and 53-year-old Tan Poh Teck, who was piloting the sampan, were intercepted by three Police Coast Guard (PCG) boats in the sea off Pulau Ubin.
Tan has been charged with abetting Chew’s attempt to leave Singapore unlawfully while Chew’s elder brother Eng Soon, 61, is out on police bail.
Chew was due to begin serving his jail term of three years and four months last Thursday for his role in the CHC saga.
He and five other former CHC leaders, including 53-year-old church founder Kong Hee, were convicted of misappropriating some $50 million in church funds in relation to the music career of Kong’s wife Sun Ho.
If convicted of leaving Singapore illegally, Chew faces a jail term of up to six months and/or a maximum fine of $2,000.
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.
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