City Harvest trial: Auditor says Serina Wee 'mischaracterised' his advice to church

An auditor testifying in the City Harvest Church trial said on Friday that certain practices described in emails written by accused Serina Wee (in photo) were "improper", and mischaracterised advice he gave to the church. These include downplaying th
An auditor testifying in the City Harvest Church trial said on Friday that certain practices described in emails written by accused Serina Wee (in photo) were "improper", and mischaracterised advice he gave to the church. These include downplaying the close relationship the church had with related companies, for example by leaving out information in minutes of church meetings. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

An auditor testifying in the City Harvest Church trial said on Friday that certain practices described in emails written by accused Serina Wee were "improper", and mischaracterised advice he gave to the church. These include downplaying the close relationship the church had with related companies, for example by leaving out information in minutes of church meetings.

The prosecution had shown Mr Foong Daw Ching, who has advised church members, several emails that Wee had written to the other five accused listing suggestions Mr Foong purportedly gave to her about the accounting and disclosures of transactions between the church and related firms. One email in 2008 saw her describe "Bro Foong" as saying the church should not minute down everything that was explained about Xtron Productions to members at a extraordinary general meeting "so as not to show too close a relationship or control over (Xtron)".

But Mr Foong denied he had given such advice. "Why would I, in my position, tell someone to do something that looks improper? It definitely did not come from me." He added that Wee had not double-checked with him first about what he had told her before telling church leaders.

The prosecution believes the six accused had illegally funnelled church money to Xtron to fund Ms Ho Yeow Sun's secular music career.

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