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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - Pastor Kong among those pickup by Police</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt_89 <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>9:37 pm </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 1) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>33926.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Jun 1, 2010
Police probe 17 linked to City Harvest Church
Investigation into alleged misuse of church funds following complaints
<!-- by line -->By Melissa Sim
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A closing notice outside Cit Harvest Church's office in Suntec. The church has a congregation of some 33,000 who gather at its Jurong West church complex and Singapore Expo. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
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A DAY after City Harvest Church completed a massive five-day seminar involving 30,000 people, foreign evangelists among them, police rounded up several individuals linked to the church for alleged misuse of church funds.
The 17 people who are assisting police with investigations include the megachurch's founder, Senior Pastor Kong Hee, who was picked up early yesterday morning.
Police also took away financial records and computers from the homes and offices of the people involved. They did not say what offences they were investigating.
A joint statement from the Commissioner of Charities (COC) and the Commercial Affairs Department said they were investigating 'several individuals and companies, related or connected' to the church.
The four-paragraph statement said the Commissioner had received complaints of the misuse of church funds. It had looked into the matter and decided that the police should become involved.
The authorities gave the assurance that the church's normal services and religious activities 'need not be disrupted and can continue for its congregation'.
Responding to queries, the Commissioner said the financial transactions being investigated were not related to, nor initiated by, the church's controversial $310million stake in Suntec City, which was announced in March.
'The two are separate matters,' said the COC.
The scope of the investigation goes beyond the church, the Commissioner said, adding: 'It also includes other companies directly or indirectly related to the church which are not charities or subsidiaries of the church.'
In fact, it is understood that the investigations relate to specific incidents that took place some time ago.
The Commissioner also clarified that the investigation was different from a review of governance processes it conducted on the church and six other religious organisations in 2007.
The COC found then, that the groups had largely complied with regulations, but asked that they pay more attention to loan policy and monitoring, donations to external parties and board members' objectivity.
Depending on the findings of this new inquiry, the COC has the power to suspend, remove or appoint additional charity trustees to ensure the proper governance and administration of the charity and to protect the charitable resources.
City Harvest, which was registered as a society in 1992 and held services in hotel function rooms, has since grown into a congregation of some 33,000 who gather at the Jurong West church complex and Singapore Expo.
Its 2009 audited accounts show that it has $103million in its reserves.
Over the years, it has spun off outfits, such as the City Harvest Community Services Association and a school of theology. It has more than 40 affiliate churches in Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Taiwan and Australia.
Poison pen letters, however, have been making the rounds of the congregation, especially since the church's Suntec deal, naming individuals and claiming that some have misused their ties with the church for profit.
The joint statement, made public at abut 3pm, made the rounds of the faithful too.
While some are expressing concern about the future of the church, others say they have confidence in the church leadership.
The church has also issued a statement to members on its website saying that 'operations will continue normally'.
Executive Pastor Derek Dunn added in the statement that it is 'cooperating fully' with the investigation and asked members 'not to be alarmed'.
Pastor Kong is one half of a prominent pair. His wife, Ho Yeow Sun, is a pop singer based in the United States. She is now in the US preparing for the release of her first album there.
She could not be contacted last night for comment.
The National Council of Churches of Singapore has said it is 'premature to draw any conclusion at this point, as the investigation has just begun'.
'A thorough investigation is welcome as it will establish the facts. We believe the leadership of the church will cooperate fully with the authorities. We await the outcome,' said the council.
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Police probe 17 linked to City Harvest Church
Investigation into alleged misuse of church funds following complaints
<!-- by line -->By Melissa Sim
<!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar -->
<!-- story content : start -->
A DAY after City Harvest Church completed a massive five-day seminar involving 30,000 people, foreign evangelists among them, police rounded up several individuals linked to the church for alleged misuse of church funds.
The 17 people who are assisting police with investigations include the megachurch's founder, Senior Pastor Kong Hee, who was picked up early yesterday morning.
Police also took away financial records and computers from the homes and offices of the people involved. They did not say what offences they were investigating.
A joint statement from the Commissioner of Charities (COC) and the Commercial Affairs Department said they were investigating 'several individuals and companies, related or connected' to the church.
The four-paragraph statement said the Commissioner had received complaints of the misuse of church funds. It had looked into the matter and decided that the police should become involved.
The authorities gave the assurance that the church's normal services and religious activities 'need not be disrupted and can continue for its congregation'.
Responding to queries, the Commissioner said the financial transactions being investigated were not related to, nor initiated by, the church's controversial $310million stake in Suntec City, which was announced in March.
'The two are separate matters,' said the COC.
The scope of the investigation goes beyond the church, the Commissioner said, adding: 'It also includes other companies directly or indirectly related to the church which are not charities or subsidiaries of the church.'
In fact, it is understood that the investigations relate to specific incidents that took place some time ago.
The Commissioner also clarified that the investigation was different from a review of governance processes it conducted on the church and six other religious organisations in 2007.
The COC found then, that the groups had largely complied with regulations, but asked that they pay more attention to loan policy and monitoring, donations to external parties and board members' objectivity.
Depending on the findings of this new inquiry, the COC has the power to suspend, remove or appoint additional charity trustees to ensure the proper governance and administration of the charity and to protect the charitable resources.
City Harvest, which was registered as a society in 1992 and held services in hotel function rooms, has since grown into a congregation of some 33,000 who gather at the Jurong West church complex and Singapore Expo.
Its 2009 audited accounts show that it has $103million in its reserves.
Over the years, it has spun off outfits, such as the City Harvest Community Services Association and a school of theology. It has more than 40 affiliate churches in Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Taiwan and Australia.
Poison pen letters, however, have been making the rounds of the congregation, especially since the church's Suntec deal, naming individuals and claiming that some have misused their ties with the church for profit.
The joint statement, made public at abut 3pm, made the rounds of the faithful too.
While some are expressing concern about the future of the church, others say they have confidence in the church leadership.
The church has also issued a statement to members on its website saying that 'operations will continue normally'.
Executive Pastor Derek Dunn added in the statement that it is 'cooperating fully' with the investigation and asked members 'not to be alarmed'.
Pastor Kong is one half of a prominent pair. His wife, Ho Yeow Sun, is a pop singer based in the United States. She is now in the US preparing for the release of her first album there.
She could not be contacted last night for comment.
The National Council of Churches of Singapore has said it is 'premature to draw any conclusion at this point, as the investigation has just begun'.
'A thorough investigation is welcome as it will establish the facts. We believe the leadership of the church will cooperate fully with the authorities. We await the outcome,' said the council.
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