Singapore
Pastor Kong Hee adds that he is at peace with serving his three-and-a-half-year jail term that begins on Friday (Apr 21).
SINGAPORE: City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee has issued an apology to his church and the public for “unwise decisions” he had made in the past.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday night (Apr 19), Kong said: “I am truly sorry … I am filled with grief and regret over my mistakes and I sincerely ask for your forgiveness.”
He added that he is at peace with serving his three-and-a-half-year jail term that begins on Friday.
“To all I have disappointed, stumbled and hurt in my church, in the Body of Christ at large, and in the public,” he said.
“I have, in these past weeks since the release of the judgment, reflected deeply. I have come to terms with what is ahead and am at peace.”
Kong was convicted in 2015 for misappropriating about S$50 million of church funds, along with five other City Harvest church leaders.
He was initially given a jail sentence of eight years, but it was reduced to three years and six months in a High Court verdict on Apr 7.
The prosecution has since appealed for the case to be heard by the apex court.
