THE police rounded up several people linked to City Harvest Church for alleged misuse of church funds. The 17 who are assisting the police with investigations include the megachurch's founder, Senior Pastor Kong Hee, who was picked up on May 31.

The police also took away financial records and computers from the homes and offices of the people involved. They did not say what offences they were investigating.

A joint statement from the Commissioner of Charities and the Commercial Affairs Department said they were investigating "several individuals and companies, related or connected" to the church. The four-paragraph statement said the commissioner had received complaints about the misuse of church funds. It had looked into the matter and decided that the police should become involved.

Responding to queries, the commissioner said the financial transactions being investigated were not related to, nor initiated by, the church's controversial $310 million stake in Suntec City, which was announced in March.