SINGAPORE, Dec 3 — The six convicted former leaders of City Harvest Church (CHC) filed notices of appeal against both their conviction and sentences at a closed-door hearing at the State Courts yesterday afternoon.

The six — CHC founder Kong Hee, 51; the church’s former second-in-command Tan Ye Peng, 42; former church investment manager Chew Eng Han, 55; former church board member John Lam, 47; former church finance managers Serina Wee, 38, and Sharon Tan, 40 — were found guilty last month of criminal breach of trust and falsification of accounts, and sentenced to jail ranging 21 months to eight years. They are out on bail.

Last week, the prosecution appealed against the sentences imposed on the church leaders after they found that the sentences were “manifestly inadequate, in all the circumstances of the case”. The prosecution had earlier called for the six to be jailed for about five to 12 years each to reflect the gravity of their offences. But the judge said that while the case involved huge sums of charity monies and serious breaches of trust, there was no personal gain and no financial loss to the church.

With the counter-appeal lodged by the six, the State Courts will serve a record of the court proceedings to all parties on Jan 4, and they will have 14 days to file a petition of appeal, Chew told the media yesterday.

TODAY understands that Kong also had his bail amount increased from S$1 million to S$1.5 million as he plans to travel during this period. The bail amounts remain the same for the rest of them.

Asked about their decision to appeal, Sharon Tan’s lawyer Paul Seah told the media that the prosecution’s decision to appeal “makes up part of” their decision to appeal.

Likewise, Tan Ye Peng said the prosecution’s move was also “one of the considerations” in his decision to appeal. — TODAY