Pastor in Singapore found guilty of using $37 million in church funds to boost wife's failing pop star career
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The pastor of a megachurch in Singapore has been found guilty of spending $37 million on his wife’s pop star career.
Pastor Kong Hee, who founded the City Harvest Church, was convicted this week of lavishing millions of dollars in church funds to boost the career of wife Ho Yeow Sun.
Five other church leaders were also found guilty in the case that has shocked the country.
Ho, a co-founder of the church who also performed under the stage name of ‘Geisha’, was not criminally charged in the case.
She is considered one of the top pop stars in the Asian island, and had previously recruited Wyclef Jean to collaborate on tracks.
After her husband was found guilty, Ho asked church members for their continuing support.
“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,” Ho wrote on the church website.
Famous for its slick image and wealthy brand of Christianity, the City Harvest Church is estimated to have about 30,000 members in Singapore and elsewhere.
Authorities began investigating the church in 2010 after complaints of financial impropriety, and quickly uncovered a complicated money trail that showed church funds were being used to support Ho's ailing career.
Church leaders said Ho’s music was a way to reach out to non-believers, but the court found Kong deceived church members, reported AJC.com.
Previous reports also revealed that Ho’s luxury lifestyle included a $20,000-a-month Los Angeles mansion.
