Serina Wee Ends Jail Term After Misusing Charity Funds
Singapore – After a whirlwind of court filings, jail time, and a few headlines, former City Harvest Church (CHC) finance manager Ms. Serina Wee is finally out of prison. The 42‑year‑old, who began serving her sentence on April 21, last year, was freed on Dec 21, just a week before her birthday.
How the Confessions Unfolded
- During the marathon trial that began in 2013, Ms. Wee frequently appeared in outfits from her own fashion blogshop, a quirky detail that made the case all the more public.
- The Church’s building fund was siphoned off – roughly $24 million – into sham bond investments that actually supported the pop music career of Pastor Kong Hee‘s wife, Ms. Ho Yeow Sun.
- To fool auditors, a maze of “round‑tripping” transactions was devised, misappropriating an extra $26 million. That’s a total of about $50 million that didn’t stay in the church.
From Courtroom to Cell Block
In 2015, six CHC leaders—including Pastor Kong Hee, deputy senior pastor Tan Ye Peng, and former fund manager Chew Eng Han—were handed prison terms ranging from 21 months to eight years for criminal breach of trust. On April 7, last year, a three‑judge High Court trimmed those sentences to a 7‑month to 3½‑year range, citing a less severe breach of trust.
Under Singapore’s standard protocol, inmates receive a one‑third remission for good behaviour, a rule that applied to Ms. Wee’s release.
Who Else Had Their Tabs Cleared?
- Sharon Tan, 43, served seven months of jail.
- John Lam, 50, wore a 1½‑year sentence.
- Other conspirators, such as Chew Eng Han, were seized at sea on Feb 1 just before starting his 3‑year, 4‑month term, having been convicted earlier for attempting to flee Singapore illegally and obstructing justice.
Post‑Release Notes
Ms. Wee’s husband, Kenny Low, declined to comment on his wife’s release, though the family has three children. All members involved in the scandal were struck off the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) list on April 9 of this year.
Why the Story Carries a Modern Twist
From a misused charity to a dance‑inspired wardrobe, the narrative stitches together one of Singapore’s most dramatic tales of financial misconduct. With the verdict finally ending, what lies ahead for the involved parties remains to be seen—maybe a calm return to everyday life or perhaps a second act in the courtroom spotlight.
