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The mix of money, faith and scandal in the case has
fascinated the public in affluent Singapore, where such cases
are rare under a system with little tolerance for corruption.
Senior pastor Kong Hee heads City Harvest Church, one of a
growing number of Singapore's megachurches preaching "prosperity
gospel" that blends spiritual and material aspirations. (http://reut.rs/1LCxhXr)
The churches have ambitions to turn Singapore into a center for
evangelical Christianity and to export their faith to the world.
Kong was arrested and charged in 2012 with criminal breach of
trust and falsifying accounts.
The six church officials were convicted of diverting nearly S$51
million ($37 million) in funds to advance the career of Kong's
wife, Ho Yeow Sun.
"There is no doubt that they had something to hide ... They knew
they were acting dishonestly," Judge See Kee Oon said in
convicting the six in the Singapore subordinate court.
Ho has focused on the Mandarin pop market and has released
albums, including "Embrace", through Warner Music Taiwan.
A video from an English-language single, "China Wine", shows her
dancing intimately with rapper Wyclef Jean, sparking criticism
that she had betrayed her calling as a Christian pastor.
Ho, the co-founder and executive director of the church, was not
charged in the case.
The church, which had around 17,000 members last year, has stuck
by its leader. It held a prayer session for Kong and others on
Tuesday night and Ho issued a message of support after the court
ruling.
"Thank you for your unwavering faithfulness in loving God and
loving one another. More than ever before, let’s have a unity
that is unbreakable," she said on the church website.
(Reporting by Rujun Shen; Writing by Rodney Joyce; Editing by
Paul Tait)
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