Celebrities behaving badly

[LITTLEREDDOT]

#1

I Not Stupid actor Joshua Ang announces divorce on social media

Joshua Ang announced that he has decided to divorce former air stewardess Shannon Low.PHOTO: JOSHUA ANG/FACEBOOK

Jan Lee

PUBLISHED DEC 16, 2020


SINGAPORE - Local actor Joshua Ang, known for acting in the comedy film I Not Stupid (2002), announced on Instagram on Monday that he has decided to divorce former air stewardess Shannon Low. They married in March 2018.

Quoting Victorian playwright Oscar Wilde, he said "divorces are made in heaven" and asked the public to congratulate him.

Ms Low, 29, hit back by posting a slew of accusations against Ang, 31, including that he has a new girlfriend, on Instagram Stories on Tuesday night.

She tells The Straits Times that she decided to go public with her allegations on social media because "it is my duty to stand up for my son and myself".

Ang told ST that the allegations were not true and said he is currently single.

He is planning to file defamation charges after she alleged that he had been violent towards her.

He says: "I am bringing this to court because I want to protect my reputation. I will spare no expense."

Ang is also filing an access order to see his son on weekends. Both parties confirm that Ang has not seen his two-year-old son in more than 190 days.

Ms Low told ST she had filed a personal protection order against her husband, which was ultimately not granted.

She also refutes the claims made by Ang in local media reports that she had asked him for money.

The couple have agreed to divorce formally next March, when they are allowed to legally do so after three years of marriage.

Ang, who is currently promoting the Jack Neo movie The Diam Diam Era, says the marriage began to fracture early this year (2020).

He moved out of their matrimonial home in June.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

#2

Ah Boys To Men actor Maxi Lim's wedding faces probe for Covid-19 breaches

(From left) Director Jack Neo, the bride Lizy Teo, the groom Maxi Lim, emcee Justin Misson and DJ Jerald Justin Ko at the wedding reception.
PHOTO: POWER98JK/INSTAGRAM

Kok Yufeng
DEC 24, 2020, 10:42 AM


SINGAPORE (THE NEW PAPER) - As the Covid-19 pandemic worsened in March, Ah Boys To Men star Maxi Lim postponed his wedding reception, writing on Instagram that it was "the most socially responsible thing to do".

But when he and his wife, influencer Lizy Teo, who registered their marriage in late March, finally held the reception at One Degree 15 Marina in Sentosa Cove on Sunday (Dec 20), some attendees allegedly threw caution to the wind by ignoring safe management measures.

In videos and photos of the event posted on social media, Mr Lim's Ah Boys To Men cast members Charlie Goh, Joshua Tan and Noah Yap, emcee Justin Misson and others, including influencer Nicole Choo and comedians Fakkah Fuzz and Jai Kishan, can be seen performing and playing games onstage without wearing masks or face shields.

Some guests at the reception were also seen intermingling and not wearing their masks during the march-in.

A reader who tipped off The New Paper on Tuesday said he had made a complaint to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) after seeing the posts.

The reader, who is in his 30s and declined to be named, said: "I held my wedding recently and I am aware how the guidelines may put a damper on the joyous occasion.

"However, just like other couples who got married during this period, we know the importance of these guidelines and many of us, with constant reminders from the venue provider, followed (them) despite all the inconveniences," he added.

"To see a public figure ignoring such guidelines blatantly is disheartening. It is also ironic to see public figures breaking the rules when they had been advocating the public to observe safe management measures."

STB director of hotel and sector manpower Tan Yen Nee told TNP in a statement that STB is aware of the allegations and is investigating.

Under current rules, wedding receptions cannot exceed 100 people split across multiple zones of up to 50 people each.

Receptions with more than 20 attendees must be split into a designated core wedding party of up to 20 people, including the bride and groom, and groups of up to five people for the remaining guests.

It is not clear which of the attendees at Mr Lim's reception were in the core wedding party.

A safe distance of at least 1m must be observed between groups and the wedding party at all times, including for photo-taking.

Live performances are not allowed, and event emcees and people making speeches are also required to wear face shields or masks when speaking onstage.

Posts on social media show attendees onstage without masks or face shields at Mr Lim's reception.
PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM INSTAGRAM

It is not clear which of the attendees at Mr Lim's reception were in the core wedding party.
PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM INSTAGRAM

Said Ms Tan: "STB... takes a serious view of any breach in safe management measures within hotel premises... Strict enforcement action will be taken against errant businesses or individuals, which may include fines, temporary closure and prosecution to the full extent of the law."

One Degree 15 Marina's acting general manager, Mr Jonathan Sit, said before any wedding, its operations team will brief the couple and wedding coordinators on the necessary measures, and go through the programme to ensure there are no games, singing or shouting.

"Should there be breaches during the wedding, our staff and managers will immediately tell the guests and even the wedding couple to stay in their seats," he said.

Mr Sit did not say whether the club had done this during Mr Lim's wedding reception, and did not directly address queries on the alleged breaches.

Challenges

He added: "As a venue operator, we share the same challenges that government-appointed social distancing officers across the island face every day in doing their jobs, but we will continue to carry out all these measures that we have already put in place."

The Straits Times reported on Monday that One Degree 15 Marina was one of 10 hotels and hostels to have been fined for breaching safe management measures.

Fly Entertainment, which manages several of the attendees at the wedding, told TNP that it takes the safety measures and regulations to curb the spread of Covid-19 very seriously.

"We have been reminding and will continue to remind our artistes and staff to adhere to all safety measures strictly, whether at work or for personal engagements," said a spokesman.

"We have advised our artistes involved in this incident to cooperate with the authorities for any investigation."

Mr Lim and other guests that TNP contacted did not respond to queries by press time.

 

[laksaboy]

Pandemic still want to get married? Not smart.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

#3

Actress fined $5,000 over verbal abuse

Melissa Faith Yeo Lay Hong pleaded guilty to two offences under the Protection from Harassment Act.

Shaffiq Alkhatib
Court Correspondent
PUBLISHED DEC 5, 2019

Actress-model Melissa Faith Yeo Lay Hong called the police emergency hotline in May and used vulgar language when talking to the operator who took her call.

The court heard that she became unhappy when the operator, Mr Mohamad Faizan Mohamed Rais, 38, told her to calm down.

She responded by hurling a swear word at him.

In another incident, Yeo, 33, who also works as a property agent, made a lewd hand gesture and hurled an obscenity at an SMRT employee in November last year.

She was fined $5,000 yesterday after pleading guilty to two offences under the Protection from Harassment Act.

State Prosecuting Officer (SPO) Mohd Nasri Haron said that assistant station manager Victor Chuang Shi Chang, 63, was at the control station of Bishan MRT station on Nov 21 last year when Yeo approached Mr Chuang to ask about the past transactions on her ez-link card.

Mr Chuang then informed her of her last two transactions. When Yeo asked for more information, he directed her to a functioning general ticketing machine about 50m away. Yeo went towards it but returned soon after and told Mr Chuang off, accusing him of giving her wrong information.

She later asked him for a feedback form and he gave her one. After taking it, she flashed him an obscene hand gesture and hurled a vulgarity at him.

SPO Mohd Nasri said that Mr Mohamad Faizan was on duty on May 2 this year when he received a call from Yeo at around 6.30pm.

Yeo wanted to find out about a case of an assault earlier in the day in which she was the victim. During the conversation, she also used an obscene word to refer to an investigation officer handling the case.

The outcome of the assault case was not mentioned in court.

Yeo was named one of FHM Singapore's 100 Sexiest Women in 2008 and 2009. In 2014, she appeared in a local movie titled Afterimages.

For verbally abusing a public servant, she could have been jailed for up to a year and fined up to $5,000.

 

[kaninabuchaojibye]

sinkypura got celebrities
haaaa
more like peanuts

 

[Scrooball (clone)]

Celebrities in Singapore are a joke. Some two bit child / teen actors in some crass low brow Jack Neo directed movie and u label them as celebs?

 

[laksaboy]

TV host gets fine, driving ban for hitting pedestrian

https://www.asiaone.com/entertainment/tv-host-gets-fine-driving-ban-hitting-pedestrian

 

[Cottonmouth]

I just want to know who this slutty looking slut is. She looks like a total whore, she would look great on my BDSM rack when my whip land on her pussy.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

#4

Pokka CEO Alain Ong suspended in management reshuffle

Chief executive Alain Ong is no longer authorised to represent Pokka Corporation (Singapore) and Pokka International, according to a letter.
PHOTO: ST FILE
PUBLISHED SEP 28, 2018

SINGAPORE (THE NEW PAPER) - A chief executive at beverage company Pokka, Mr Alain Ong, has been suspended from his position in a management shake-up last week.

Shin Min Daily News broke the news on Wednesday (Sept 26) that Mr Ong, 43, who is the husband of Mediacorp actress Vivian Lai, had been suspended from his management positions as part of an internal audit at the firm's international marketing arm, Pokka International.

A Pokka spokesman told Shin Min that Ms Rieko Shofu is now acting CEO of Pokka International and has taken over Mr Ong's role as deputy group CEO at Pokka Corporation (Singapore). Mr Ong remains a Pokka employee, the spokesman added.

Ms Shofu is group CEO of Pokka Corporation (Singapore).

Both companies are local subsidiaries of Japanese conglomerate Sapporo Holdings, which bought the Pokka brand in 2011.

The spokesman added that neither the company nor its employees are being investigated by external organisations.

Despite the changes involving her husband at Pokka, Ms Lai's contract with the company remains unchanged, Mediacorp said in a statement yesterday.

Lai, 41, has been endorsing the brand for at least a decade, Shin Min said, and the paper previously reported in 2012 that Ms Lai had inked a $1 million deal to be an ambassador for the beverage maker.

Shin Min reported that Mr Ong, who joined Pokka in 2006, was one of several upper management changes that came as part of Pokka's internal audit.

Pokka's personnel changes first came to light last Wednesday. Shin Min reported that businesses that had dealings with Pokka received written notifications about the change in management.

A letter obtained by the newspaper dated Sep 19, said Mr Ong was no longer authorised to represent Pokka Corporation (Singapore) and Pokka International.

Responding to queries, Pokka's spokesman told Shin Min that the management re-shuffle was to ensure that operations would not be affected during the audit.
It could not comment on individual employees due to company policy.

Marketing Magazine reported on Thursday that Pokka has not made any decisions with regard to its future marketing strategy when asked about Lai's endorsement deal.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

#5

Actor-singer Aliff Aziz jailed two weeks and fined for theft and behaving in a disorderly manner

Actor-singer Aliff Aziz stole $300 and one million rupiah in cash from an Indonesian actress.PHOTO: ST FILE

Shaffiq Alkhatib
Court Correspondent
SEP 15, 2020, 6:15 PM

SINGAPORE - Actor-singer Mohamad Aliff Aziz was sentenced on Tuesday (Sept 15) to two weeks' jail and a fine of $500 for theft and an unrelated charge of behaving in a disorderly manner in public.

The 29-year-old Singaporean pleaded guilty to the offences on Aug 7.

This was not his first brush with the law. In 2014, he was fined $2,000 for stealing two mobile phones.

On Tuesday, Principal District Judge Victor Yeo noted that an Institute of Mental Health (IMH) psychiatrist had earlier found that Aliff had an adjustment disorder.
The psychiatrist had, however, stated that it had no bearing on Aliff’s offending behaviour.

Judge Yeo also noted that he was a repeat offender.

On June 7 last year, Aliff met Indonesian actress Raja Yunika Perdhana Putri, 32, in her room at the Studio M hotel in Nanson Road near Havelock Road at around midnight to discuss how she could help further his singing career in her home country.

When she went to rest at the second storey of her room, he opened her handbag and stole $300 and one million rupiah (S$92) in cash.

Noticing that her money was missing after she woke up about two hours later, she phoned Aliff who denied stealing from her. She alerted the police later that day. He has since made full restitution.

Separately, Aliff was found to be intoxicated under the link bridge of Orchard Towers shopping centre at around 5.30am on Nov 10 last year.

A police officer, Sergeant Theodore Lee, 24, who saw Aliff shouting loudly, told him to calm down.

Aliff complied before walking away. But an hour later, he walked towards a nearby taxi and kicked its bumper. No damage was caused.

He also got into a scuffle with an acquaintance later that morning near Orchard Towers and was arrested.

Aliff rose to fame in 2007 after winning Anugerah, the Malay TV channel Suria’s version of Singapore Idol .

On Tuesday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Pavithra Ramkumar urged the court to sentence him to two weeks’ jail and a fine, stressing that he is a repeat offender.

Defence lawyer, Senior Counsel Murali Pillai, said his client had sought treatment at various places, including IMH, from 2014 to 2019.

Offenders convicted of theft can be jailed for up to seven years and fined.

First-time offenders convicted of behaving in a disorderly manner in public can be jailed for up to six months and fined up to $2,000. Repeat offenders can be jailed for up to a year and fined up to $5,000.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

#6

Veteran local actor-director Huang Yiliang charged with assault and affray

Veteran local actor-director Ng Aik Leong, better known as Huang Yiliang, was charged with one count each of causing hurt with a weapon and an unrelated affray charge involving another man.
ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

Shaffiq Alkhatib
Court Correspondent
NOV 29, 2019

SINGAPORE - Veteran local actor-director Ng Aik Leong, better known as Huang Yiliang, appeared in court on Friday (Nov 29) after he allegedly attacked another man with a metal scraper.

Ng, 58, was charged with one count each of causing hurt with a weapon and an unrelated affray charge involving another man.

Affray is committed when two or more people disturb the public peace by fighting in a public place.

Ng is accused of using a metal scraper to attack a man identified as Mr Jahidul at a canteen of the Singapore Islamic Hub in Braddell Road at around 4.30pm on Dec 11 last year.

He allegedly used the weapon to hit Mr Jahidul twice on his abdomen and once on his head.

The alleged victim suffered a head injury and an abrasion over his abdomen.

Separately, Ng allegedly disturbed public peace by fighting with Mr Morgana Raj Saravanan in Buffalo Road at around 7.50pm on June 9 this year.

He is said to have hit the back of Mr Morgana Raj's head with a mobile phone.

Ng was unrepresented in court on Friday and he told District Judge Terence Tay that he intends to engage a lawyer.

He was offered bail of $15,000 and the case has been adjourned to Dec 20.

Ng, who had been named Best Supporting Actor at the annual Star Awards three times, left Mediacorp in 2008 and set up a production house.

Known for his comedic flair, he stood out in roles such as a foul-tempered husband in Holland V and a gambler in a movie by film-maker Royston Tan titled 12 Lotus.

Ng made his directorial debut in 2009 with Autumn In March, an arthouse film about a girl who loses her family and tries to find happiness by manipulating those around her.

If convicted of affray, Ng can be jailed for up to a year and fined up to $5,000.

Those convicted of causing hurt with a weapon can be jailed for up to seven years and fined or caned.

Ng cannot be caned, as he is over 50 years old.

 

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#7

Actor Shane Pow assaulted at Marina Bay Sands nightclub

Shane Pow was assaulted at Marquee Singapore after he bumped into a fellow patron at the club and accidentally spilled a drink on the patron's shoes.
PHOTO: SHANE POW/FACEBOOK

Jan Lee

APR 14, 2019


SINGAPORE - Local actor Shane Pow was hospitalised after he was assaulted at Marquee Singapore, a new nightclub which opened at Marina Bay Sands last Friday (April 12).

Channel 8 News reported that the 28-year-old, who is managed by broadcaster Mediacorp's The Celebrity Agency, bumped into a fellow patron at the club and accidentally spilled a drink on the patron's shoes.

A Mediacorp statement said: "Despite Shane's apologies, he was assaulted and had to be treated for his injuries."

Pow was in the company of his girlfriend Kimberly Wang, a 987 FM radio presenter, and other friends.

The police said that it was alerted to a case of rash act causing hurt at Marina Bay Sands on Saturday at 2.08am. Investigations are ongoing.

Pow was taken to the Singapore General Hospital and later transferred to another hospital. He was discharged on Sunday

Mediacorp added that Pow, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Mind Matters (2018) at this year's Star Awards, will not be attending the ceremony on Sunday night.

The filming of police drama C.L.I.F. 5, which Pow is involved in, has already begun and will not be affected by Pow's injuries.

The broadcaster said Wang will return to work on Monday to helm her usual 6am to 10am radio slot.

Pow was first discovered at the Singapore Manhunt finals in 2011 and later became a full-time artist.

He is one of Mediacorp's Eight Dukes, a term used to refer to the eight most promising young actors of local television.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

#8

Mediacorp stars caught allegedly flouting Covid-19 rules at Jeffrey Xu's birthday bash

Jeffrey Xu posted an Instagram story of a large gathering.
PHOTO: JEFFREY XU/INSTAGRAM

Jan Lee

DEC 24, 2020

SINGAPORE - Local Mediacorp stars have apologised via the broadcaster after three of them - Jeffrey Xu, Shane Pow and Terence Cao - were caught in what looked like a breach of Covid-19 regulations.

A Shin Min Daily News reader tipped off the Chinese language publication on Wednesday (Dec 23) that Xu, who celebrated his 32nd birthday on Oct 3, had posted an Instagram story of a large gathering. The attendees included other celebrities like Jeremy Chan and Julie Tan, who are not managed by Mediacorp.

The picture, reportedly uploaded on Oct 3, showed 13 people in one photograph in what looks like someone's residence, with Xu holding a cake. No one was wearing a mask.

Mediacorp said in a statement to Shin Min that it has checked with the three stars under its management - Xu, Cao and Pow - and confirmed that they were at the gathering, which took place in October. It said the three "deeply regret" their actions and apologise for their mistakes.

In an updated statement to The Straits Times, Mediacorp said 987FM deejay Sonia Chew was also at the gathering.

The broadcaster added it takes safe distancing and Covid-19 regulations seriously and reminded its artists to follow such rules in both their professional and personal capacities.

Current Covid-19 regulations stipulate that social gatherings have to be limited to groups of five outside the home and that households may receive up to five visitors at any one time.

Responding to media queries on Wednesday night, the Ministry of National Development (MND) said it has been alerted to "a possible violation of safe distancing measures that occurred in a residence".

An MND spokesman said investigations are being carried out on possible breaches by the various parties in the incident.

"MND and other government agencies take a serious view of such breaches, and will not hesitate to take firm action against those who are found to have violated safe distancing measures," he added.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

#9

Probe into breach of safe distancing measures
Sonia Chew dropped as host of countdown show

Radio presenter Jean Danker (left) will take over from fellow deejay Sonia Chew (right) as host of Mediacorp's countdown show, after the latter was enmeshed in a probe into whether Covid-19 safe distancing rules were breached at a party for actor Jeffrey Xu, which she attended.
PHOTOS: JEAN DANKER/INSTAGRAM, SONIACHEW/INSTAGRAM

Jan Lee

29 DEC 2020

Deejay Sonia Chew has been dropped from hosting Mediacorp's annual countdown show amid a probe into whether Covid-19 safe distancing rules were breached at a party for actor Jeffrey Xu.

The 987FM presenter, who was at the party, was supposed to host Let's Celebrate 2021 with deejay Joakim Gomez, but has since been replaced by deejay Jean Danker.

Mediacorp said in a statement to The Straits Times: "We take this matter seriously and constantly brief and remind our artists to adhere to safe management guidelines at all times. We are also cooperating fully with the authorities in their investigations.

"In the meantime, Jean Danker will be hosting Let's Celebrate 2021 with Joakim Gomez. "

Chew, 29, was among several artists spotted in a picture taken at Xu's 32nd birthday, which was reportedly uploaded by Xu on Oct 3 onto his Instagram Stories.

It showed 13 people at the celebration, in what looked to be a private residence, with Xu holding a cake. Celebrities spotted in the picture include Xu, Chew, actors Terence Cao, Shane Pow, Jeremy Chan and actress Julie Tan. No one was wearing a mask.

A reader alerted Chinese newspaper Shin Min Daily News to the picture earlier this month. Mediacorp, which manages Xu, Chew, Pow and Cao, later confirmed that the picture was taken in October and said its artists apologise for their mistakes. At that time, only up to five could gather outside the household and each household had a cap of five visitors at any one time. The Ministry of National Development is investigating the incident.

All the stars spotted in the picture have since apologised on their social media accounts.

Tan, who is managed by actor Li Nanxing's talent agency, was the first to do so last Thursday. The rest, who had previously kept quiet about the scandal online, all said sorry last Saturday.

Chew explained in her post: "I was invited to have drinks with what I understood to be a small group of people and was not aware it was a birthday celebration."

She said she was not making excuses, noting that she did not leave when she saw more than five people at the scene. She added: "It was a severe lapse of judgment on my part in this case and from the bottom of my heart, I am so sorry."

Similarly, Pow, 29, wrote that he was "deeply regretful of my actions", while Cao, Xu and Chan also apologised for not setting a good example as public figures.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

#10

25 Dec 2020 - Gathering of more than 5. David Gan not complying with safe distancing rules under Phase 2.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

#11

Twelve Cupcakes founders Daniel Ong, Jaime Teo charged with offences under Employment of Foreign Manpower Act

Daniel Ong (left) and Jaime Teo each face 24 charges under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act linked to pastry chain Twelve Cupcakes. ST PHOTOS: KELVIN CHNG

Shaffiq Alkhatib
Court Correspondent

29 DEC 2020

SINGAPORE - Local radio DJ Daniel Ong Ming Yu and former model Jaime Teo Chai Lin were hauled to court on Tuesday (Dec 29) over offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act linked to pastry chain Twelve Cupcakes, which they founded.

They each face 24 charges.

Earlier this month, the firm pleaded guilty to 15 charges of underpaying the employees in 2017 and 2018, an offence under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

Fourteen other similar charges will be taken into consideration by District Judge Adam Nakhoda during sentencing, which is expected to take place on Jan 7 next year.

Twelve Cupcakes was founded by Ong and Teo, now his ex-wife, in 2011. It was acquired for $2.5 million by the Kolkata-based Dhunseri Group in 2016.

Court documents state that all seven employees were S-Pass holders at the time of the offences. It is not stated if they are still working for the company.

While their fixed monthly salaries ranged from $2,200 to $2,600, they were instead paid about $1,400 to $2,050 by the company.

The court heard that Twelve Cupcakes underpaid six of the employees - who were in customer service and sales roles - their December 2016 to September 2018 wages.
One of these six workers was also underpaid the October and November 2018 wages.

The company also paid less than the fixed monthly salary for January 2017 to September 2018 due to the remaining employee, a pastry chef.

Court documents state that Twelve Cupcakes had initially credited the reduced salaries to the employees' bank accounts.

But they later changed tactics, paying the workers their full salary from May 2018 onwards but then telling the employees they had to return a portion to the company in cash.

Twelve Cupcakes had done so to conceal a paper trail of its offences, said Ministry of Manpower prosecutor Maximilian Chew in urging the court to impose a fine of $127,000.

He said that Twelve Cupcakes would have continued underpaying the employees if the offences had not been discovered.

The court heard that Twelve Cupcakes underpaid six of the employees their December 2016 to September 2018 wages. PHOTO: ST FILE

The prosecutor also said that Singapore is heavily reliant on foreign employees in many sectors, including the food and beverage industry.

There was therefore "enormous public interest" in holding companies accountable for their welfare, including paying their salaries fully and promptly, he added.

The case involving Ong has been adjourned to Jan 26.

 

[Leongsam]

These characters cannot possibly be celebrities because I have never heard of a single one of them.

The term "celebrity" refers to people like Tom Cruise, Oprah Winfrey, Psy etc that are household names in many countries around the world.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

#12

Jail terms for Kong Hee, fellow church leaders

City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee was given eight years' jail.ST PHOTO: ALICIA CHAN

Danson Cheong

NOV 21, 2015

City Harvest mega church founder Kong Hee was yesterday sentenced to eight years in jail for his role in misusing charity money in a failed attempt to turn his wife into a global pop star.

The other five City Harvest Church (CHC) leaders found guilty last month over what has been labelled by the prosecution as Singapore's biggest charity financial scandal were also handed prison terms.

Deputy senior pastor Tan Ye Peng was given 51/2 years. Former CHC fund manager Chew Eng Han was handed a six-year prison term. For former CHC finance committee member John Lam, it was three years behind bars.

And former CHC accountants Serina Wee and Sharon Tan were given sentences of five years and 21 months, respectively.

After the 142-day trial that absorbed Singaporeans and caught the world's attention, Judge See Kee Oon told a packed courtroom that the six acted dishonestly, defrauded auditors and betrayed the trust of donors as they illegally used $50 million of the church's building fund to pay for the pop career of Ms Ho Yeow Sun and then covered their tracks.

He agreed with the defence that the six may not have gained financially themselves, and believed they were pursuing the church's interests by trying to attract the "unchurched" through Ms Ho's music.

But the judge highlighted the large sums involved, the serious nature of the offences and the need to deter others.

Ms Ho, whose raunchy music videos and lavish lifestyle had raised eyebrows, was not in court yesterday alongside her husband.

Never charged, she was recently made a pastor of the church, which is now closely monitored by the Commissioner of Charities.

Yesterday, through a post on the church's Facebook page, she urged members to band together and pray for the six.

Later, Kong, on his own Facebook page, wrote that he was saddened by the length of his sentence. He also said the lessons learnt will strengthen the church, which has lost a quarter of its congregation since investigations began in 2010. According to the church's annual report last year, its congregation numbered around 17,500.

The six accused had their bail extended and were informed that their prison terms start on Jan 11. Chew told the court he would appeal against his conviction and sentence. The rest said they would study the judgment first.

 

[Annunaki]

This type considered Celebrities?

 

[gingerlyn]

How about celebrities taking drugs and pills ? How many of them will be arrested if police haul them up to check their blood and urine ?