MEGA-CHURCH FOUNDER CHARGED WITH FRAUD

SINGAPORE: The founder of one of Singapore’s largest evangelical churches was charged with fraud Wednesday for allegedly funneling millions of dollars to his wife’s singing career.

City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee, center, is surrounded by supporters as he leaves the Subordinate Courts Wednesday, June 27, 2012 in Singapore. Authorities have arrested Hong and alleged millions of dollars in church money was used to aid the career of his pop singer wife Ho Yeow Sun. The Charities Commissioner said at least $23 million Singapore dollars (US$18 million) of church money instead financed the music career of Ho. AP/ Wong Maye-E

City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee, 47, was charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit criminal breach of trust in connection with a scheme to syphon at least 23 million Singapore dollars (US$18 million) of church funds from 2007 to 2010 to finance the singing career of his wife, Ho Yeow Sun. 

Known professionally as Sun Ho, the 40-year-old has put out several Mandarin and English pop albums and songs, including a 2007 collaboration with pop star Wyclef Jean called “China Wine.” She was not charged Wednesday. 

Kong did not enter a plea and was freed on SG$500,000 (US$390,000) bail after his passport was seized. He would face up to 20 years in prison or a fine for each charge if found guilty.  

He did not comment on the accusations in court but earlier had tweeted that he trusted Jesus and referred to Tuesday, when he was arrested, as a “tough day.” 

Prosecutors also charged four other church leaders with breach of trust and conspiracy to commit falsification of accounts. 

The charges follow a two-year police investigation sparked by local media reports that depicted Ho’s lavish lifestyle, including a $20,000-a-month Los Angeles mansion. A church member had alleged in 2003 that City Harvest funds were paying for Ho’s singing career, but he later retracted the statement and publically apologized to Kong and Ho. 

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said in a statement that the church is free to hold regular services. City Harvest, which has a congregation of more than 30,000 people, said in a statement that church operations would continue as usual and declined to comment on the case. 

The Charities Commissioner on Tuesday suspended the five charged church leaders along with Ho and two others from their positions as trustees, board members and employees at City Harvest. 

Kong gained notice for his charismatic preaching style in front of tens of thousands of worshippers during services at the Suntec Convention Center. He said on his Twitter account Tuesday, “Tough day. I trust in You, Lord Jesus. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done!” (AP)

MAS AIRBUS A380 TOUCHES DOWN AT KLIA

 

KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia Airlines' first Airbus A380 aircraft touched down at the KL International Airport (KLIA) Friday.

Commanded by Captain Norshid Ali, Flight MH5439 from Toulouse had 91 guests and selected MAS staff on board.

They included MAS Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, Malaysia Airports CEO Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad, Department of Civil Aviation Director-General Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman and senior Ministry of Finance officials, a MAS statement said.

The aircraft received a traditional water cannon salute as it taxied towards the airport's A380-equipped terminal.

Speaking at the welcoming ceremony, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said he was pleased to note that despite the mounting continuous challenges in the global commercial aviation industry, MAS has met its obligation to fulfil the corporate objectives required by the government.

"The arrival of the A380 today is proof that the national carrier has once again taken the lead to support the nation's aspirations to be a leader in trade and tourism activities," Kong said.

Earlier, Ahmad Jauhari said the A380 is part of MAS' fleet renewal initiative to bring a new level of product and experience to the airline's guests.

MAS will take delivery of more Boeing B737-800, Airbus A330-300 and another three A380 aircraft later in the year, he added.

MAS cabin crew also hosted a guided static tour of the double-deck aircraft for around 50 guests, comprising officials from the Ministry of Transport, senior airport officials and members of the media.

Meanwhile, in conjunction with the A380 arrival, the Transport Minister also officiated the opening of the upgraded Malaysia Airlines' flagship Golden Lounge at the KLIA Satellite Building, the statement added.

The upgraded Golden Lounge has two seating areas comprising the Platinum lounge for Enrich Platinum members and First Class guests, as well as another zone for Enrich Gold members, Business Class guests and front-end passengers of customer airlines.

The 43,284 sq ft (4,019 sq m) facility, which is open 24 hours daily, accommodates a maximum of 326 passengers in the Business Class zone and 64 passengers in the First Class zone.

To enhance the overall customer experience for Malaysia Airlines' guests, MAS cabin crew are on hand to serve guests in the Lounge, the statement said. (Bernama)

PARAM KINI DIRAJA TAMBAH NILAI

Oleh : SAJAD HUSSEIN

KOTA KINABALU : Usaha gigih dalam mengharungi segala halangan akhirnya menjulang N. Parameswaran ke tangga kejayaan.

Parameswaran, 42, sudah melakar nama di Sabah dan kini merupakan "Raja" dalam perniagaan tambah nilai untuk telefon mudah alih.

Beliau ialah peniaga eksklusif untuk mesin tambah nilai automatik "Woopit" yang mesra pelanggan dan meliputi semua operator syarikat telekomunikasi utama seperti Maxis, Celcom dan Digi.

Mesin itu berbentuk seperti pondok telefon dan boleh digantung di dinding dan beroperasi 24 jam.

Bagi Param dari Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, yang berjaya melakar nama dalam perniagaan khusus ini, kejayaan itu datang selepas mengharungi cabaran hebat.

Sebelum meneroka perniagaan ini, Param yang lebih dikenali sebagai "Randy" dalam kalangan rakan perniagaannya, menjual buku dan mempromosi program bahasa.

"Saya mengharungi banyak halangan dan kerjaya perniagaan saya hampir berakhir. Namun, saya teruskan juga, berusaha mengatasi halangan dan akhirnya berjaya," katanya.

Nasib beliau berubah apabila diperkenal kepada mesin Woopit pada November tahun lepas. Beliau mengambil risiko dengan melaburkan simpanannya sebanyak $17,000 dalam perniagaan itu dan berpindah ke Sabah untuk mencuba nasib.

Bagi dua bulan pertama, pendapatannya tidak begitu terjamin namun beliau tidak putus harapan, malah bekerja lebih keras.

Akhirnya pada 23 Dis, beliau mendapat semula modal dan dalam tempoh enam bulan, berjaya menjual 100 mesin Woopit untuk membuat untung bersih, yang digunakan untuk meluaskan perniagaannya ke Indonesia, India dan Filipina.

Param berkata perniagaan Woopit bagus untuk pesara dan mereka yang mahukan pendapatan kukuh dengan risiko yang kecil.

Beliau sedia mengajar mereka yang berminat dalam perniagaan itu dan boleh dihubungi di 016 2122196. (Bernama)

WANITA HAMIL MALAYSIA SELUDUP DADAH

  

MELBOURNE : Seorang wanita hamil dari Malaysia yang menelan 34 until kecil heroin di Kuala Lumpur sebelum ditahan di lapangan terbang Melbourne pada Jumaat, dihukum penjara 14 bulan setelah mengaku bersalah mengimport heroin.

Akhbar The Age melaporkan, Hakim Mahkamah Daerah Gabriele Cannon menyelar Norazlinda Ramli, 35, dari Puchong, Selangor kerana sanggup membahayakan nyawa bayi yang dikandungnya dengan berkata tindakannya menjadi penyeludup dadah

Kata hakim itu walaupun Norazlinda, yang dijadual melahirkan bayi perempuan dan sudah diberi nama ‘Grace’ pada 15 Julai, berhasrat untuk tinggal bersama bayinya di dalam penjara, tetapi perkara itu akan diputuskan pihak berkuasa berkenaan.

Norazlinda, yang dipercayai menghadapi masalah kewangan, mengandung 12 minggu ketika menelan untilan dadah berkenaan dan menaiki pesawat Malaysia Airlines dari Kuala Lumpur ke Melbourne pada 12 Februari.

Setelah ditahan para pegawai kastam, dia mengeluarkan untilan yang mengandungi 83.1 gram heroin tulen dan dianggarkan bernilai A$92,200 (RM298,101) di pasaran gelap.

Hakim Cannon berkata Norazlinda mendakwa dia tidak menyedari untilan berkenaan mengandungi heroin.

Dalam keterangan kepada polis, Norazlinda berkata dia didatangi seorang lelaki semasa bekerja di pusat beli-belah di Subang Jaya dua minggu sebelum menaiki pesawat dan diberitahu akan dibayar RM9,000 sekiranya dia menelan 80 until kecil dan pergi ke Australia.

Bagaimanapun, kata wanita ini, dia hanya dapat menelan 34 until.

Hakim Cannon berkata Norazlinda menerima tawaran lelaki berkenaan kerana ingin menyara keluarganya.

Norazlinda mendirikan rumah tangga dengan lelaki pilihan keluarganya ketika berusia 16 tahun dan mempunyai lima anak. Anak lelakinya meninggal dunia ketika berusia tiga tahun kerana masalah paru-paru tiga tahun lepas, manakala ibunya meninggal dunia akibat kanser pada 2009.

Rumah tangganya hancur pada 2010 apabila suaminya mengalami masalah mental dan kembali tinggal dengan keluarganya.

Berikutan itu, Norazlinda bersama anak-anaknya yang berusia 8, 11, 16 dan 19 tahun, terpaksa tinggal dengan bapa tirinya di sebuah pangsapuri tiga bilik.

Ketika bekerja di sebuah kedai pakaian, dia menjalin hubungan dengan lelaki bernama Abdul Ramen yang mengusahakan kedai runcit bersebelahan tempatnya bekerja.

Apabila hamil hasil hubungannya dengan Ramen, Norazlinda mengalami masalah kewangan untuk menanggung keluarganya dan ini mendorongnya bersetuju menelan untilan dadah berkenaan dan pergi ke Australia.

Hakim Cannon berkata Norazlinda boleh dikenakan hukuman maksimum 25 tahun penjara serta denda A$550,00, tetapi beliau mengurangkan hukuman itu setelah mengambil kira “masalah keluarga luar biasa yang dihadapinya.” (Bernama)

BE CAREFUL OF YOUR ACTIONS MARINA!

CHEERS....Marina (left) poses with Bersih Co-Chair Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan outside a police station in Petaling Jaya, November 7, 2011.

By : SHAZWAN MUSTAFA KAMAL

KUALA LUMPUR : Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed has cautioned his daughter to be wary of her outspokenness as well as support for groups like Bersih and sexuality rights movements, saying these may affect her family members who are still active in politics.

The forthright Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir has disagreed with her father on occasion, most notably her consistent support for the electoral reforms group. She had participated in the last two Bersih rallies in the city capital.

“I do hope she will realise what she is doing is not good for herself, not good for the government party at least. She should also be sensitive about her brother who is contesting in the election,” Dr Mahathir said, referring to his son Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, who is currently international trade and industry deputy minister.

The former prime minister said this in an interview with online television station The Malaysian Observer (MobTV).

“She doesn’t care about what people think. I care about what people think... if not, I won’t get anywhere.

“Maybe it’s because she has no ambition so she speaks her mind. I cannot agree with the things she is doing, but nowadays you cannot tell your children ‘please stop this, please stop that’; they have a mind of their own,” said the country’s longest-serving prime minister.

Dr Mahathir said while he respected her stand on speaking up for the underprivileged, he did not like the idea of her “associating” herself with Bersih whose agenda, he believed, has been “hijacked” by the opposition.

He also told his daughter to draw a limit to how much support should be given towards the lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual (LBGT) community.

“She (has) never said she supports this; I hope she doesn’t. She cared for this people...but she has to draw a line between them and the idea that being homosexual is okay, (or that) men marrying men is okay,” he stressed.