These days, it’s common knowledge that the majority of pop stars you see gyrating in music videos, scaling the charts, and entrancing arena crowds are the result of millions of dollars in record label money and machinations.
While many ardent “real” music fans may not like it, it’s really the prerogative of the labels, the artists, and their fans. Sure, AutoTune and lip-syncing may abound, but the con pretty much stops there and most fans aren’t bothered by it.
But a group of Singaporean religious leaders have taken things to a new level. As ABC News reports, six religious leaders in Singapore have been convicted of fraud after using $50 million in church funds to manufacture a pop star.
Following a two-year trial that captivated Singapore with tales of lavish spending and financial deceit, pastor Kong Hee and five aides were found guilty of diverting $24 million to finance his wife Sun Ho’s music career.
The fraud was portrayed as a religious mission and the six were also found guilty of misappropriating a further $26 million from the City Harvest Church to cover their tracks, prosecutors told the court.
However, Ms Ho, whose career highlights include starring in a music video with rapper, producer, and former Fugees member Wyclef Jean, was not charged. The church claimed Ms Ho’s music could be used to attract new followers, though the salacious music video suggests otherwise.
On Wednesday, Judge See Kee Oon found the accused guilty of criminal breach of trust or falsification of accounts, or both. According to ABC News, the maximum penalty for criminal breach of trust, which all six were convicted of, is life imprisonment.
Kong Hee and his wife experienced their fall from grace after the leaders of the church were charged in 2013. The court heard how church funds were spent on ostentatious music videos, marketing, and a luxurious lifestyle.
Prosecutors said Kong and his subordinates engaged in a practice called “round-tripping”, channelling money allotted for a church building fund into sham bonds in linked companies so they could finance Ms Ho’s music career and falsifying church accounts to cover their tracks.
