Accused in City Harvest saga permitted to travel

An accused in the City Harvest Church misuse of funds saga has been allowed to travel temporarily. 

Tan Ye Peng, 39, applied for permission at the subordinate courts on Thursday, saying he plans to go to Indonesia for a four-day mission this month.

Tan, who's vice-chairman of City Harvest Church, faces six counts of conspiring to commit criminal breach of trust by an agent and four counts of conspiring to falsify accounts. 

Tan is among six senior church leaders, including the church's founding pastor Kong Hee, charged with varying counts of criminal breach of trust and falsifying accounts. 

Their passports have been impounded. 

The case involved millions of dollars in City Harvest Church funds, which were allegedly siphoned off to further the music career of Kong Hee's wife, Ho Yeow Sun. 

Two other accused church leaders, Kong Hee and investment manager Chew Eng Han, had applied and were allowed to travel out of Singapore.

The countries listed in their submissions include the United States, Indonesia and South Korea.

All three accused have been allowed to travel until November 22 - the date for their third pre-trial conference.

The pre-trial session, which will be held at noon, will be conducted behind closed doors.

Lawyers said no trial date has been set.