City Harvest Church investment manager Chew Eng Han on Thursday, applied for and was granted permission by the court to travel overseas again during a pre-trial conference (PTC).

Chew said he was traveling for personal reasons.

His bail was not increased from the last time he applied to travel overseas.

The 52 year-old is one of five church leaders - including the founding pastor Kong Hee - accused of conspiring to cheat City Harvest Church of more than $50 million.

They are alleged to have funnelled $24 million into sham bond investments to further the music career of Kong's pop singer wife, Ho Yeow Sun.

They are also alleged to have misappropriated a further $26.6 million in church funds to cover up the first amount.

Chew told The Straits Times on Wednesday that he is plans to apply for persmission to hire a Queen's Counsel (QC) - the most elite of British lawyers - to represent him here.

He said he is taking the unusual move because he could not find a senior counsel to represent him.

QCs are specially appointed senior barristers recognised for their specialised skills and expertise.

The other five accused in the case were not in court for the hearing.