Malaysian man charged with abetting Chew Eng Han to leave Singapore illegally

A Malaysian man who was charged on Wednesday (Feb 28) for his alleged involvement in helping former church leader Chew Eng Han to flee Singapore after allegedly receiving $8,000.

Khoo Kea Leng, 45, is accused of collecting the amount in cash as a partial payment from Chew for helping him to escape to Malaysia. 

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a statement on Tuesday (Feb 27) that Khoo was arrested in Malaysia with assistance from the Royal Malaysia Police following an arrest warrant issued by Singapore State Courts. 

It is alleged that Khoo had discussed escape plans with Chew in a carpark at Block 75, Marine Drive, near East Coast Park.

He was brought back to the scene and subsequently charged on Wednesday (Feb 28) with abetting the escape bid, reports The Straits Times. 

Malaysian Police had arrested Khoo in Johor Bahru and handed him to the Singapore police on Monday. 

He will be remanded at the Central Police Division for a week to assist with investigations, with the case set for a mention on March 7, 2018. 

If convicted, Khoo faces up to two years’ jail and a maximum fine of $6,000.

Khoo reportedly conspired with Chew on Feb 20 to escape from Singapore from an unauthorised place of embarkation, departing point or point of departure.

The former City Harvest Church fund manager was nabbed on a motorised sampan doing an alleged failed escape attempt on Feb 21. 

A boat, Tan Poh Teck, 53, was also arrested with Chew, and $5,000 in cash, as well as fishing equipment, was found on them.

Both Chew and Tan were charged on Feb 22 and will return to Court on Thursday (Feb 29).

Chew was due to begin his jail term of three years and four months on Feb 22. 

He and five others have been convicted of misappropriating church funds in the largest fraud involving charity money in Singapore’s history.