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<TABLE id=msgUN border=0 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD id=msgUNsubj vAlign=top>
Coffeeshop Chit Chat - Kong & Sun Ho appoints Allen & Gledhill</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>Jun-19 10:45 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 5) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>34850.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Jun 19, 2010
City Harvest founder says he is doing well
Pastor at centre of funds probe breaks silence via blog to thank supporters
<!-- by line -->By Yen Feng
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Mr Kong paid tribute to 'a glorious 20 years of church building' in the 11-paragraph statement entitled Reflections. -- PHOTO: CITY HARVEST CHURCH
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AFTER weeks of silence and dodging the media, City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee yesterday gave his first public comments via his blog about the ongoing probe involving his church.
In a post entitled Reflections, Mr Kong said he and the church's management board were helping the police with investigations, and that he and his family were 'doing well'.
He also thanked church members for their support.
The 11-paragraph statement did not add details to the case, which got off to a dramatic start last month when Commercial Affairs Department officers raided the church's offices at Suntec City.
'Because we're in the midst of the investigation, I am unable to provide any details about the progress besides what already has been released by the Singapore Police in their statement to the press,' Mr Kong wrote in his message.
He could not be reached yesterday for comment.
A church spokesman said that Mr Kong and his wife were being represented by law firm Allen & Gledhill.
Questions remain.
Weeks after the raid, it is still not known exactly how many organisations and individuals are being investigated, or who they are.
What has been made public is that the investigations have to do with misuse of church funds and financial transactions involving 'several individuals and companies, related or connected' to the church.
The police on Wednesday said the number of persons assisting them with the inquiry had increased from an initial 17 to more than 20 now.
Known persons so far comprise Mr Kong, 46; his wife Ho Yeow Sun, 38, better known as Sun Ho; and the church's 10-member management council.
No one has been arrested.
Mr Kong, who is also the church's senior pastor, yesterday described the investigation as a turning point for the church, which, since its founding in 1989, has grown to become Singapore's largest independent Christian church, with a congregation of more than 33,000 followers.
Recalling that the police raid took place only a day after the church had concluded an international conference featuring more than 25,000 participants, Mr Kong said on the blog: 'What a difference a day makes... The page had turned.
'The celebration had abruptly ended.'
Since the raid, Mr Kong has stayed largely out of sight.
He made a brief appearance last week during services at Singapore Expo but did not address the congregation.
By yesterday evening, Mr Kong's post had attracted more than 90 responses.
A handful of readers said he was insincere; the majority, however, expressed gratitude for the positive influence the church has had on their lives.
In the last paragraph of his message, Mr Kong said: 'It has been a glorious 20 years of church building filled with tears and triumph, brokenness as well as breakthroughs.
'I believe that the City Harvest story will continue to unfold.'
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City Harvest founder says he is doing well
Pastor at centre of funds probe breaks silence via blog to thank supporters
<!-- by line -->By Yen Feng
<!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar -->
<!-- story content : start -->
AFTER weeks of silence and dodging the media, City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee yesterday gave his first public comments via his blog about the ongoing probe involving his church.
In a post entitled Reflections, Mr Kong said he and the church's management board were helping the police with investigations, and that he and his family were 'doing well'.
He also thanked church members for their support.
The 11-paragraph statement did not add details to the case, which got off to a dramatic start last month when Commercial Affairs Department officers raided the church's offices at Suntec City.
'Because we're in the midst of the investigation, I am unable to provide any details about the progress besides what already has been released by the Singapore Police in their statement to the press,' Mr Kong wrote in his message.
He could not be reached yesterday for comment.
A church spokesman said that Mr Kong and his wife were being represented by law firm Allen & Gledhill.
Questions remain.
Weeks after the raid, it is still not known exactly how many organisations and individuals are being investigated, or who they are.
What has been made public is that the investigations have to do with misuse of church funds and financial transactions involving 'several individuals and companies, related or connected' to the church.
The police on Wednesday said the number of persons assisting them with the inquiry had increased from an initial 17 to more than 20 now.
Known persons so far comprise Mr Kong, 46; his wife Ho Yeow Sun, 38, better known as Sun Ho; and the church's 10-member management council.
No one has been arrested.
Mr Kong, who is also the church's senior pastor, yesterday described the investigation as a turning point for the church, which, since its founding in 1989, has grown to become Singapore's largest independent Christian church, with a congregation of more than 33,000 followers.
Recalling that the police raid took place only a day after the church had concluded an international conference featuring more than 25,000 participants, Mr Kong said on the blog: 'What a difference a day makes... The page had turned.
'The celebration had abruptly ended.'
Since the raid, Mr Kong has stayed largely out of sight.
He made a brief appearance last week during services at Singapore Expo but did not address the congregation.
By yesterday evening, Mr Kong's post had attracted more than 90 responses.
A handful of readers said he was insincere; the majority, however, expressed gratitude for the positive influence the church has had on their lives.
In the last paragraph of his message, Mr Kong said: 'It has been a glorious 20 years of church building filled with tears and triumph, brokenness as well as breakthroughs.
'I believe that the City Harvest story will continue to unfold.'
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