Doubts based on an initial reading, not a firm conclusion: Sim

[SINGAPORE] The defence launched its cross-examination of City Harvest Church's (CHC) one-time external auditor yesterday with Kong Hee's lawyer establishing that the auditor had no grounds on which to give any direct evidence on the CHC founder and senior pastor.

Sim Guan Seng, managing partner of local public accounting firm Baker Tilly TFW, testified yesterday that he had no contact, communication or dealings with Kong during his entire time as the audit engagement partner of CHC and Xtron Productions (a music production house that helped manage CHC's evangelisation-through-pop- music Crossover Project).

Mr Sim said he could not testify as to what Kong did, knew or was aware of - in relation to the evidence that the auditor had tendered on Monday and Tuesday - given that he had no dealings with Kong throughout the entire audit period.