A 45-year-old Malaysian was charged on Wednesday (28 February) with abetting Chew Eng Han to flee the country from Pulau Ubin jetty on a motorised sampan last Wednesday.

Khoo Kea Leng allegedly received S$8,000 in cash from the former City Harvest Church leader, who was convicted in 2015 of misappropriating S$50 million of church funds.

Chew, 57, was due turn himself in and begin his jail term of three years and four months on Thursday (22 February). However, according to the police, he decided to run away from the country the day before from an unauthorised place of embarkation, departing point or point of departure.

The Police Coast Guard intercepted the motorised sampan in the sea off Pulau Ubin on the same day at about 8.47 am on the same day and about S$5,000 and fishing equipment was found on the boat.

With the help of the Royal Malaysian Police, Khoo was arrested in Malaysia following a warrant of arrest issued by Singapore State Courts and was handed over to the Singapore Police Force on Monday.

He allegedly received the cash payment on 20 February, the day before Chew made his escape, at a public carpark near Block 75 Marine Drive in Singapore.

Khoo was taken back to the scene on Tuesday to tell the police how he and Chew had made arrangements for Chew to skip town.

Khoo also stated that he was paid thousands to help him.

A judge ordered Khoo’s remand on Wednesday, therefore, he will be remanded at Central Police Division for a week for investigation. He will next appear in court on 7 March.

If convicted, Khoo faces a jail term of not less than six months and not more than two years, plus a fine of up to $6,000.

Chew and Tan, the boatman, are due to appear in court on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Chew’s older brother Eng Soon has been arrested and released on bail. The authorities suspect he may have had a part to play in the escape plot. However, the 61-year-old has not yet been charged.

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