Tag Archives: criminal

C3 Leaders Idolising Pringle’s Criminal Mentor Yonggi Cho & Misleading congregants

25 Thursday Feb 2016

Posted by in C3 & Pringles Associations, Uncategorized

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THE FACTS OF YONGGI CHO’S DANGEROUS BEHAVIOUR

David Yonggi Cho has recently spoken at C3 Church Oxford Falls. What makes his invitation so scandalous is how C3 leadership are deliberately lying to their congregation in their attempt to cover up the fact that Yonggi Cho is a convicted criminal.

“Cho was charged with causing around 13.1 billion won in damages to his church and evading approximately 3.5 billion won in taxes in the process (embezzlement as defined in the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes). In addition, Pastor Cho’s oldest son Cho Hee-jun, 49, former chairman of the Yeongsan Christian Culture Center, was given a three-year prison sentence and taken into custody.” [Source]

Because of this, he is disqualified to pastor at all, ever again because of his criminal record, his unruly son, his public reputation and his love for money (Read 1&2 Timothy). We also consider Yoido Full Gospel Church a cult, considering “International Apostle” Cho is accountable to no one – not even his elders who tried to blow the whistle on his crimes:

“Yoido Full Gospel Church has suspended or expelled 28 elders for not withdrawing legal accusations against senior pastor David Yonggi Cho, 77.
The punishments are a form of retaliation for blowing the whistle on alleged misdeeds by Cho and his son Hee-jun, 48.” [Source] [Emphasis ours]

Yonggi’s disciple, Phil Pringle, has no allowing this cult leader, criminal and illegal pastor to speak at his church. Instead, Pringle recently stated on Instagram that Yonggi Cho has “Faced many challenges and has remained true”.

True to what Pringle?

C3 LEADERS WORSHIPING PRINGLE’S CRIMINAL MENTOR

Christian McCudden wrote on Instagram,

Amazing night in Sydney with Ps @philpringle and Dr Youngi Cho, amazing download of wisdom, faith and inspiration. #gratefulforourleaders

Source: Christian McCudden, Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/p/BCKgWA7LWxN6Yd42p8Gdsgiyw19JAWtg9AmMro0/, Published 24/02/2016. (Accessed 25/02/2016.)

proof_InstagramChoAtC3-1_25-02-2016

Pringle put this out on Instagram,

Loved #Leaderstablesessions yesterday with Dr David Yonggi Cho from Seoul, who has led an 800,000 people congregation for many years. Faced many challenges and has remained true. 80th birthday. Thanks@john_pearce for hosting#superpastorsday @C3OF#powerofdreamsandvision Dr Cho speaks again tonight 7pm C3 Oxford Falls. All welcome. #seeyouinchurch

Source: Phil Pringle, Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/p/BCL-srgNP16/, Published 25/02/2016. (Accessed 25/02/2016.)

proof_Instagram-PringleAndChoC3-25-02-2016

[More C3 hero worship will be posted here as they surface.]

Phil Pringle invites convicted felon, Yonggi Cho, to speak at C3 Church Oxford Falls.

10 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by in Pringle's Business, Pringle's Influences, Uncategorized

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“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.” Acts 20:28-30

We here at ChurchWatch have followed, and documented the scandal Dr Yonggi Cho was involved in. It was not long ago that this man was found guilty of serious charges. On 20 February 2014, Cho was found guilty of tax evasion, sentenced to three years imprisonment, suspended for five years, and fined the equivalent of almost $5 million. His oldest son Cho Hee-jun was sentenced to three years imprisonment. The charges arose from Cho’s church purchasing shares from his son’s church at above market value and fraudulently claiming tax relief.

To this day, Phil Pringle continues to lie by omission, praising Yonggi Cho but neglecting to tell his church of Cho’s crimes.

David Yonggi Cho Church Fraud Investigation? (Part 6) Ps David Yonggi Cho – Convicted

“Cho was charged with causing around 13.1 billion won in damages to his church and evading approximately 3.5 billion won in taxes in the process (embezzlement as defined in the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes). In addition, Pastor Cho’s oldest son Cho Hee-jun, 49, former chairman of the Yeongsan Christian Culture Center, was given a three-year prison sentence and taken into custody.”

It comes to our attention that Phil Pringle has invited this false prophet to speak at C3 Church this Thursday February 25. We leave it up to our readers to decide on the appropriateness of this invitation for Yonggi Cho to speak as a church “leader” rather than as a convicted felon, (a person convicted in a court of law of a felony crime).

David Yonggi Cho is not only a false (which disqualifies him from Christianity), he also has disqualified himself as a Christian pastor. These are the requirements of a pastor:

“An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity.” 1 Timothy 3:3 (Emphasis ours.)

The things we highlighted in bold are areas he failed in relation to the financial scandal he was involved in and how he ruthlessly treated his elders. And because Cho is a swindler, why is Pringle inviting David Yonggi Cho to speak as though he is a figure of high integrity? Pringle is directly opposing Christ, His Word and His Church with this clear command in scripture:

“But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler– not even to eat with such a one.” 1 Corinthians 5:11

And yet C3 hypocritically state “we love Jesus and people”?

C3 Church Oxford Falls stated on their instagram,

We love Jesus and people. Sat 5pm + Sun 830am 10am 6pm Oxford Falls // Sun 10am Wahroonga + Avalon + Manly // #everyONEmatters#sydneyacityforchrist www.c3churchjournal.com/news-on-the-go/

Source: C3 Church Oxford Falls, Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/p/BBioskhQN09/, Published 09/02/2016. (Accessed 09/02/2016.)

proof_Instagram-YonggiChoAtC3_09-02-2016

Here is the video:

[Click to download]

 

 

Pringle falsely teaching CHC and C3 are STILL “persecuted” by satanic Singaporean government and “Christians”

25 Wednesday Nov 2015

Posted by in C3 Teaching

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A CRIMINAL IN THE EYES OF GOD

When Jesus warned his disciples to watch out for wolves disguised as shepherds (pastors), he wasn’t suggesting they were misguided men. On judgment day, Jesus called the ἀνομίαν out for what they were in this life.

phil pringle

Consider how different translations try to convey the word ἀνομίαν (anomian) in the Greek:

‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (NIV)
‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ (NLT)
‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (ESV)
‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (BSB)
‘I never knew you; depart you from Me, those working lawlessness.’ (BLB)
‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ (NASB)
I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (KJB
I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’ (HCSB)
‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who practice evil!'” (ISV)
Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’ (NETB)

Lawbreakers.

Evildoers…

The word “criminal” comes to mind. And it makes sense considering the false teachers in Jesus days illegally usurped the Levitical priesthood, invented their own manmade traditions in the name of YHWH (Mark 7:3) and were a law unto themselves. Jesus continually called out their hypocrisy and crimes in his ministry.

You could say that Jesus Christ preached both the law and the gospel, exposed and persecuted the lawless, tried to convict them of their sins and call them to repent just like he did everyone else.

And now Kong Hee of City Harvest Church, who has been exposed as a wolf in sheep’s clothing because of his blasphemous and heretical teachings, has also been convicted as a criminal. You CANNOT separate the two. 

An unrepentant criminal in the pastoral office can only be a false teacher. An unrepentant false teacher in the pastoral office can only be a criminal. Why? Because they are not regenerate or “bearing fruit in keeping with repentance”. Therefore, they are not qualified or trained to rightly handle God’s Law & Gospel correctly and will insist what they are teaching is right, using another standard as their authority to bring everyone in line.

And usually that standard is a lie.

The lie that is still being thrown around by these lawless ministers is that Kong Hee is being persecuted for preaching the gospel. We tackle this deceptive propaganda by Phil Pringle and Kong Hee in this article here:

Is Kong Hee being fairly or unfairly persecuted by the Singapore government?

If God is fighting for the Christian, the one’s against the Christian are the false teachers. And when it has been publicly exposed that Kong Hee and Phil Pringle have been lying to Christians and financially ripping them off to live the high life, God’s actual enemy is Phil Pringle and Kong Hee.

They are the lawless ones – and the courts of Singapore proved this.

And God commands that we “purge the wicked ones from among us.” (1 Cor 5.) So if God is commanding us to stand in love (for true love rejoices in the truth), then the Christian thing to do is to expel these criminals from behind the pulpit in Jesus’ name. Otherwise if we don’t, we are not showing that we love God at all.

“If you love me, keep my commands.” – Jesus, John 14:15

PRINGLE SLANDERS THE APOSTLE PETER

In Phil Pringle’s ‘Persecuted’ article, we would like to alert our readers to his slanderous teaching against the Apostle Peter: “The Apostle Peter says, don’t be surprised when people criticise you for your faith.” Pringle is lying by ommission. Peter did not exactly say that. (We will read what he says in context down lower.)

That’s all you get from Peter the Apostle. However, by using that, Phil Pringle twists the Apostle’s words to teach that “Satan has been attacking God through His people ever since.”

No – Satan only “has been attacking God” through “false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.”

That “false apostle” and “deceitful worker” would be you Phil Pringle.

God Himself points His finger at you through the writings of the Apostle Paul and says, “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

Your false prophecies, sins, cover-ups and refusal to repent are on record and the whole world is watching you use the Word of God to justify your sins and your crimes before God.

Pringle also writes,

“There has always been a dark, sinister, yet invisible and well-camouflaged hater of people connected to Christ.”

They are called false teachers Phil Pringle. What you are writing is proving this case all too well.

“The motivation behind all the persecution is a malignant evil spirit that cannot help itself but seek to destroy anything that has the scent of Christ. It is the spirit of anti-Christ.”

Again Phil, you are the proof. Since starting the C3 Church Watch and CHC Church Watch sites, we’ve only encouraged people to stand on the Word of God. You’ve decided to stand with your best friend Kong Hee. Now you’re asking Christians to stand beside a “thief,” “criminal” and “meddler.”

And you accuse Christians of “persecuting” you?

Since you attacked God and His Apostle Peter, we will let Peter finish off what he was trying to say:

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” 1 Peter 4:12-16 (Emphasis added)

Phil Pringle writes,

PERSECUTED

In our last week of the series ‘The Beautiful Attitudes’ we look at how we will always come up against criticism and persecution and how we should respond to this through the teachings of Jesus.

The Apostle Peter says, don’t be surprised when people criticise you for your faith. Persecution is not something that is alien to the Christian life. God declared war on Satan after the Fall of man (Gen 3:15), and Satan has been attacking God through His people ever since. Christians are “strangers and pilgrims” in an alien world where Satan is the god and prince (John 14:30; 2 Cor 4:3-4). Whatever glorifies God will anger the enemy, and he will attack. For believers, persecution is not a strange thing. The absence of satanic opposition would be strange!

If you are without some kind of persecution or opposition it could be an indicator that you are not having much effect against the darkness in our world. Some of you wish you were not having so much effect. One of the signs that you are standing for something worthwhile is that it will be opposed. We are trying to do the right thing in a world hell bent on doing the wrong thing. We are going against the tide of feeling in the world. What we stand for will be mocked, criticized and opposed.

1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

There has always been a dark, sinister, yet invisible and well-camouflaged hater of people connected to Christ. The motivation behind all the persecution is a malignant evil spirit that cannot help itself but seek to destroy anything that has the scent of Christ. It is the spirit of anti-Christ. God’s people have never been immune from opposition, persecution. The very first record in Scripture was Abel, who was killed by his brother Cain, because of his righteousness. His brother was also religious but was wanting to do religion his way, not God’s. This has always been a mystifying fact, that some of the most monstrous enemies of Christians have been religious people, claiming they are doing God’s work.

Persecution takes on many forms, from very public oppositions with dire results all the way through to mere unfounded, unnecessary criticisms at the office. Persecution can be invisible pressure coming upon you for no reason at all, temptations, spiritual oppression warfare in your mind and emotions. Persecution can come through relationships both close and far, family, friends, associates.

But let me say this, when acceptance and respectability come to the church, she will die. This is not said so we seek to irritate the world around us or attack them. But as you simply live out the life of following Christ you will not be able to escape the inevitable evil opposition of the religious people, evil spirited people intent on opposing all you stand for. Yet rejoice said Jesus, because He has overcome the world. We will live in victory in spite of the fact that we are under pressure.

When you step out to obey God, all hell will break loose against you. When you decide to help build the church, to be a connect-group leader, to volunteer, to become a Vision Builder and give above your tithes to the Vision, you will enter into a spiritual warfare that seems completely out of proportion to the level of what you have so far accomplished. The devil is the patron of overkill. But it’s because he recognises the power of one persons influence. To kill every child under two in the nation seems like overkill, but Moses lived and delivered 3 million slaves and destroyed a God hating nation, birthing a God loving nation with laws that the entire civilised world has based their society upon. Moses became the greatest hero of antiquity. We need to recognise this reality so we understand whom our warfare is with. It is not with people, but with spiritual evil (Eph 6:12).

We have named this series ‘The Beautiful Attitudes’ obviously a play on the words ‘The Beatitudes’. Yet the condition for this kind of opposition to happen is because of the Christ centeredness of believers. You are not going to be opposed if Christ is not the center of your life and activity. You will not be opposed if you are merely religious and not empowered by the Holy Spirit. The word Christ means ‘anointed’. The anti Christ spirit doesn’t seem to bother religious people who are not filled with the Holy Spirit, but once the people of God become empowered with the great Holy Spirit of God, the anointing, then that demon reacts.

However, it is not just the fact that we are persecuted that we are blessed but also because of our response to that persecution.

Matt 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you

Here is the key of what Jesus was speaking to. He said we are blessed, not cursed when people say all manner of things against us falsely. We inherit the blessing when we respond with the love of God.

1 Peter 3:9 Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

A little later on in this verse Peter says to not avenge yourself. Leave it to God, because He has said ‘Vengeance is Mine’. I have experienced this first hand many times, when I have been tempted to take matters into my own hands, but then what I have instead, forgiven them, blessed them and left it to the Lord, they certainly have discovered the Lord looks after His own.

Today I want you to let go any desire for revenge you have towards people who have hurt you, opposed you, hated you, said things against you falsely, used you, lied about you and done you wrong.

Forgive them.

Bless them.

Pray for them.

Thanks for following along with our series on the Beatitudes. If you need to catch up on any of my previous messages on this click this link here to check them out. If you’d like to read some of my leadership teaching, be sure to check out my blog posts on LinkedIn.

See you in church!

Source: By Phil Pringle, Persecuted, PhilPringle.com, http://philpringle.com/blog-/persecuted, Persecuted, Published 26/10/2015. (Accessed 25/11/2015.)

proof_PhilPringle-Persecuted_25-11-2015

NOTE: SCREEN GRAB TAKEN 25/11/2015.

CHC Stands With The Convicted David Yonggi Cho: “We Stand By Him In This Time Of Need”

25 Tuesday Feb 2014

Posted by in C3 & Pringles Associations

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The scriptures say,

“But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:11-12

This scriptural instruction was given to the church to deal with immoral members. If you think this form of church discipline on members is severe, how serious do you think church discipline would be on Christian leaders caught in criminal activity?

Who knew that CHC would reject God’s Word and rather defend a pastor convicted of criminal activity? There is something seriously wrong when CHC defends a criminal in Christian leadership rather then defending God’s Word.

Will Phil Pringle and C3 stand by Yonggi Cho in this time of need as well?

A commentor from CHC confessions published a statement from CHC regarding David Yonggi Cho’s sentence,

Dear Church Family,

Re: News Of Dr Yonggi Cho’s Court Case

Some of you might have heard about Dr Yonggi Cho’s son being sentenced to three years’ jail. Dr Cho has been issued a fine and a five-year probation but he will not be jailed.

We are saddened by this news and our thoughts and prayers are with Dr Cho and his family as they go through this difficult time.

Dr Cho is the Senior Pastor Emeritus of Yoido Full Gospel Church. He has always been a great friend of our church and he has done innumerable good works for the Kingdom of God. We stand by him in this time of need.

The church leadership echoes the sentiments of a senior Yoido Full Gospel Church leader who says: “I have worked for Pastor Yonggi Cho for 40 years that I can say, Pastor Cho is living a very modest way in good example, and he usually gives away all the substances or personal donations that are given to him. Please consider what he has done for good, and please do not judge him by what his son did.”

Please join us in prayer for Dr Cho and his family.

In Christ,

The CHC Management Board

FAQ

It was reported in the Korean press on 20 February 2014 that Dr Yonggi Cho’s son has been sentenced to three years’ jail. Dr Cho has been fined US$4.7m and given a five-year probation but he will not be jailed.

Dr Cho is the Senior Pastor Emeritus of Yoido Full Gospel Church in South Korea, which has over 800,000 members and is widely considered as the world’s largest Christian congregation. According to a report in Korea Joong Kang Daily, during the 90-minute sentencing on 20 February, the courtroom was packed with church members, “a testament to the influence the Cho family wielded in the mega-church.”

While there has been talk of an appeal, Dr Cho has decided to accept the judgment of the court as an appeal may force him into an adversarial stance against his son, says a senior elder of the church and a close personal friend to Dr Cho.

What was the case all about?

According to News 1 Korea, a Korean internet news portal, in September 2011, 30 elders of Yoido Full Gospel Church made a formal complaint that Dr Cho and his son had misused over 20 billion won (US$18.7m) of church money to purchase shares of stock. The police began investigations in December 2012.

According to Korea Joong Kang Daily’s report on 21 February, Dr Cho stood trial on charges that he ordered church officials in 2002 to purchase 250,000 shares of stock for I-Service, a company owned by his oldest son Cho Hee-jun, 49, at a price four times higher than market value, causing the church to lose 13.1 billion won.

Prosecutors argued that Dr Cho’s son had asked his father to purchase the shares at a much higher cost to recoup the 20 billion won he lost in stock investments two years earlier — a claim the court accepted.

Why does Dr Cho face penalties?

News 1 Korea says that the court judge stated that the reason for the penalty was due to the specific evasion of taxes amounting to 3.5 billion won (US$3.3m). But it also stated that this had something to do with wrong advice given by the accounting firm.

The court judge read out the statement that although the crime was initiated by the son, he couldn’t have caused the church such a big loss without Dr Cho’s help, due to the latter’s position in the church.

We understand from very reliable sources that Dr Cho had no personal gain from any of the investments.

Is it true Dr Cho will be jailed?

The two largest Korean newspapers The Chosun Ilbo and Joong Ang Ilbo have both reported that Dr Cho will not be jailed. He is under probation for five years, which we understand to mean that he will be under the watch of the authorities.

According to Korea Joong Kang Daily’s report, the judge explained: “Considering how the defendant has led his life in tumultuous times, and contributions he has made to society as a religious man, the court has decided to suspend his prison term for five years.”

What did Dr Cho’s son do?

According to news reports, Dr Cho’s eldest son Cho Hee-jun, who has been in jail twice before, apparently lost that sum while serving as chairman of the newspaper Kookmin Ilbo, when he collected billions of won in donations from readers and church members to help cover the newspaper’s operating costs.

While delivering the three-year prison term, the judge rebuked him for attempting to shift the responsibility for his unethical business practices onto his father and other senior church members.

Korea Joong Kang Daily reported that the judge said of Cho Hee-jun: “The defendant’s behavior is subject to and deserves criticism.”

Cho Hee-jun was taken into custody immediately upon being sentenced.

What should we do now?

Dr Cho has been such a friend and mentor to our church. We are grateful to God that there is no jail term for Dr Cho. Let us pray for him, Dr Kim Sung-hae and their family in this challenging time.

We understand that Yoido Full Gospel Church should be issuing a formal statement in the coming days. That statement will be posted here in due time.

Updated as at 22 February 2014

Special Notices
22 Feb 2014
Re: News Of Dr Yonggi Cho’s

Source: Grace Tan, CHC Confessions, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/CHCConfessions/posts/755571817795531?comment_id=7568643&offset=0&total_comments=38, Comment made on the 22/02/2014. (Accessed 24/02/2014.)

We thought it worth publishing the updated version,

We understand that Yoido Full Gospel Church should be issuing a formal statement in the coming days.
That statement will be posted here in due time.

Dear Church Family,

Re: News Of Dr Yonggi Cho’s Court Case

Some of you might have heard about Dr Yonggi Cho’s son being sentenced to three years’ jail. Dr Cho has been issued a fine and a three-year prison term which has been suspended for five years.

We understand that a suspended sentence is a sentence given after the formal conviction of a crime that the convicted person is not required to serve. We also understand Dr Cho has been issued a conditionally suspended sentence. This type of sentence withholds execution of the penalty as long as the defendant exhibits good behavior.

We are saddened by this news and our thoughts and prayers are with Dr Cho and his family as they go through this difficult time.

Dr Cho is the Senior Pastor Emeritus of Yoido Full Gospel Church. He has always been a great friend of our church and he has done innumerable good works for the Kingdom of God. We stand by him in this time of need.

The church leadership echoes the sentiments of a senior Yoido Full Gospel Church leader who says: “I have worked for Pastor Yonggi Cho for 40 years that I can say, Pastor Cho is living a very modest way in good example, and he usually gives away all the substances or personal donations that are given to him. Please consider what he has done for good, and please do not judge him by what his son did.”

Please join us in prayer for Dr Cho and his family.

In Christ,

The CHC Management Board

FAQ

It was reported in the Korean press on 20 February 2014 that Dr Yonggi Cho’s son has been sentenced to three years’ jail. Dr Cho has been issued a fine and a three-year prison term which has been suspended for five years.

We understand that a suspended sentence is a sentence given after the formal conviction of a crime that the convicted person is not required to serve. We also understand Dr Cho has been issued a conditionally suspended sentence. This type of sentence withholds execution of the penalty as long as the defendant exhibits good behavior.

Dr Cho is the Senior Pastor Emeritus of Yoido Full Gospel Church in South Korea, which has over 800,000 members and is widely considered as the world’s largest Christian congregation. According to a report in Joong Ang Daily, during the 90-minute sentencing on 20 February, the courtroom was packed with church members, “a testament to the influence the Cho family wielded in the mega-church.”

While there has been talk of an appeal, Dr Cho has decided to accept the judgment of the court as an appeal may force him into an adversarial stance against his son, says a senior elder of the church and a close personal friend to Dr Cho.

What was the case all about?

According to News 1 Korea, a Korean internet news portal, in September 2011, 30 elders of Yoido Full Gospel Church made a formal complaint that Dr Cho and his son had misused over 20 billion won (US$18.7m) of church money to purchase shares of stock. The police began investigations in December 2012.

According to Joong Ang Daily’s report on 21 February, Dr Cho stood trial on charges that he ordered church officials in 2002 to purchase 250,000 shares of stock for I-Service, a company owned by his oldest son Cho Hee-jun, 49, at a price four times higher than market value, causing the church to lose 13.1 billion won.

Prosecutors argued that Dr Cho’s son had asked his father to purchase the shares at a much higher cost to recoup the 20 billion won he lost in stock investments two years earlier — a claim the court accepted.

Why does Dr Cho face penalties?

News 1 Korea says that the court judge stated that the reason for the penalty was due to the specific evasion of taxes amounting to 3.5 billion won (US$3.3m). But it also stated that this had something to do with wrong advice given by the accounting firm.

The court judge read out the statement that although the crime was initiated by the son, he couldn’t have caused the church such a big loss without Dr Cho’s help, due to the latter’s position in the church.

We understand from very reliable sources that Dr Cho had no personal gain from any of the investments.

Is it true Dr Cho will be jailed?

The two largest Korean newspapers The Chosun Ilbo and Joong Ang Daily have both reported that Dr Cho will not be jailed.

According to Joong Ang Daily’s report, the judge explained: “Considering how the defendant has led his life in tumultuous times, and contributions he has made to society as a religious man, the court has decided to suspend his prison term for five years.”

What did Dr Cho’s son do?

According to news reports, Dr Cho’s eldest son Cho Hee-jun, who has been in jail twice before, apparently lost that sum while serving as chairman of the newspaper Kookmin Ilbo, when he collected billions of won in donations from readers and church members to help cover the newspaper’s operating costs.

While delivering the three-year prison term, the judge rebuked him for attempting to shift the responsibility for his unethical business practices onto his father and other senior church members.

Joong Ang Daily reported that the judge said of Cho Hee-jun: “The defendant’s behavior is subject to and deserves criticism.”

Cho Hee-jun was taken into custody immediately upon being sentenced.

What should we do now?

Dr Cho has been such a friend and mentor to our church. Let us pray for him and his family in this challenging time.

We understand that Yoido Full Gospel Church should be issuing a formal statement in the coming days.

That statement will be posted here in due time.

Updated as at 23 February 2014

Source: CHC, http://www.chc.org.sg/, Updated as at 23 February 2014. (Accessed 23/02/2014.)

proof_CHCChoUpdate_23-02-2014

C3 Asheville Scandal – While Dean’s Playing Slick, Nick’s In The Knick (Part 7)

27 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by in C3 & Pringles Associations, C3 Asheville Scandal

≈ 3 Comments

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If you are not familiar with the C3 Asheville scandal, please update yourself with our articles here:

C3 Asheville Scandal – C3 Pastor Facing Prison (Part 1)
C3 Asheville Scandal – C3 Pastor “Pleads Guilty In Bank Fraud Case” (Part 2)
C3 Asheville Scandal – Sweetmans Do Nothing Against Fraudulent C3 Pastor? (Part 3)
C3 Asheville Scandal – Four “People… Have Pleaded Guilty” Including “[C3] Minister… Nicholas Dimitris” (Part 4)
C3 Asheville Scandal – C3 ‘Pastor’ Nick Dimitris: The Liar (Part 5)
C3 Asheville Scandal – Massive Financial Judgment Against C3 Asheville Pastor Nick Dimitris (Part 6)

A few years ago Nick Dimitris stated,

“Emily and I want to update you on some news about our family and the circumstances that has arisen. Over two years ago we purchased property from some folks who are currently under a federal investigation in pursuit for multiple proprieties. These individuals and the bank that provided the financing were allegedly involved in illegal behaviour.

Although we had no knowledge of their misbehaviour, we’ve been required to participate with the federal government in this case since we were the buyers. This has put us in a very difficult position and cooperation was not an option in the matter. Our testimony now is a very critical part of the case against these individuals.

You may have seen information about this in the media. And if so, please realise that the media is very good at misconstruing facts, which is misleading at best. Nevertheless, it sells papers. We cannot control what the media does or how they represent the circumstance.  But let me assure you church, the facts of the matter have been given to our overseers and a team of leaders within the church.”

Moving along, the Citizen-Times reports,

ASHEVILLE — Three men were sentenced to federal prison Tuesday for their roles in an elaborate scheme to obtain more than $23 million in illegal loans to forestall failure of the bankrupt Seven Falls development.

Robert Craig Gourlay, David G. Smith and Nicholas Dimitris conspired with developer Keith Vinson in a case that Judge Martin Reidinger described at the hearing as “a scourge on this community.”

“This is a case where the concerted actions of a few people brought down two banks,” the judge said in U.S. District Court in Asheville. “Not only was it serious wrongdoing, it was very harmful wrongdoing.”

Reidinger sentenced Gourlay, chief credit officer at Pisgah Community Bank, to 15 months in prison. Smith, a loan officer with the bank, received nine months. Dimitris, a minister and real estate investor, got 12 months.

Seven Falls filed for bankruptcy in 2009. The luxury development was planned to accommodate 900 homes and an Arnold Palmer-designed golf course on 1,400 acres, potentially adding $1.25 billion to Henderson County’s tax base.

Prosecutors said Vinson had “straw borrowers” take out illegal loans to buy lots in hopes of preventing foreclosure. Vinson was unable to borrow more money because of rules designed to limit banks’ exposure to any one borrower.

Gourlay and Smith authorized loans involving millions of dollars to straw borrowers, while Dimitris served as such a borrower on loans made by the bank, receiving kickbacks in return, according to criminal complaints filed in 2011.

The three are among 10 codefendants who reached plea deals with prosecutors, leaving only Vinson to stand trial. He was convicted by a jury last month on all 13 counts he was charged with, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, misapplication of bank funds, wire fraud and money laundering.

Reidinger ordered Vinson held without bond until sentencing. He faces up to 30 years in prison, according to prosecutors.

The judge said that in sentencing of Gourlay, Smith and Dimitris, he took into account their cooperation with the government in the case against Vinson. Gourlay and Dimitris testified at the trial.

But Reidinger pointed out that Bank of Asheville and Pisgah Community Bank failed as a result of the scheme. Such crimes serve to undermine the banking system, he said.

“When citizens don’t have confidence in the banking system, the economy collapses,” the judge said.

Prosecutors said Vinson began Seven Falls with a $25 million bank loan to be repaid with money from the sale of lots. He ran out of money in 2008, when the economy tanked and sales dried up. That’s when Vinson and his fellow conspirators came up with a “lot loan scheme” involving straw borrowers.

Former Bank of Asheville President George Gordon “Buddy” Greenwood pleaded guilty to bank fraud charges and was sentenced in May 2012 to four years in federal prison. According to court records, Greenwood was involved in illegal loans to Vinson totaling nearly $6.8 million.

Vinson and six other codefendants, including former Pisgah Community Bank President Thomas “Ted” Durham Jr., await sentencing.

Source: Clarke Morrison, 3 get prison in Seven Falls case – Three men get terms for conspiring with Vinson in loan scheme, http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20131127/NEWS01/311270022/3-get-prison-Seven-Falls-case?nclick_check=1, 26/11/2013. (Accessed 27/11/2013.)