Charities watchdog resumes motion to unseat CHC leaders
City Harvest Church service. TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — The Commissioner of Charities (COC) has resumed regulatory action to remove seven City Harvest Church (CHC) executive members, including five of those sentenced today (Nov 20) for misuse of church funds, from their management positions in the church.
The five are the church’s founding pastor Kong Hee, who is also a board member; board chairman John Lam; vice-chairman and deputy senior pastor Tan Ye Peng; and church employees Sharon Tan and Serina Wee. A district court sentenced the five to jail along with the church’s former church investment manager Chew Eng Han.
Chew is not involved in these proceedings as he has left the church. However, the COC has ordered City Harvest not to enter into any transactions with Chew and his related entities without the COC’s consent.
Chew is the sole director of AMAC Capital Partners, which previously handled the church’s investments.
Mr Kelvin Teo Meng How, agent and employee, and Ms Jacqueline Tan Su Pheng, church employee, are two other executive members who may also be stripped of their positions.
Releasing a statement about two hours after the sentencing, the COC said it has sought representations from the individuals and the church’s governing board as to why the seven should not be removed, and will consider the reasons “fully and fairly” before making a decision.
The Attorney-General’s consent will also be required for any removal to take place.
The removal proceedings, which were deferred “on a goodwill basis” until after the conclusion of criminal proceedings, aim to protect the church’s assets.
“(The proceedings) do not prevent the individuals from continuing with their religious duties, which are separate from the holding of any governance or management positions in the charity ... The services of the charity can continue as usual,” it said.
Removal proceedings under the Charities Act are independent of criminal proceedings and are initiated when the COC is satisfied that there has been mismanagement and misconduct in a charity’s administration that necessitates intervention.
Should the seven be removed from their respective designations in the church, they will be disqualified from acting as governing board members, trustees or key officers of any other charities.
Their executive memberships in CHC, which accord them the right to attend and vote in general meetings, may also be terminated.
Orders issued in 2012, which restrict the church from entering into transactions with the seven and their related entities without the COC’s approval, remain in place.
The orders also prohibit the church from paying legal fees for those involved in the criminal and removal proceedings.
The church is also required to regularly update the COC’s office about its key activities and finances, and will remain “closely monitored” to ensure proper governance and administration.
Noting that CHC has since elected a new governing board comprising 11 individuals, the COC said: “Going forward, the Governing Board has to exercise greater duty of care and prudence to protect the (church’s) charitable assets and to ensure that they act in the best interest of the (church).”
