Kong Hee (above, right), founder and lead pastor of City Harvest Church, was found guilty in 2015 along with five others of misusing the church member's money. It is the biggest ever mishandling of money by a charity in Singapore's history.
The money was used to support the music career of Kong Hee's wife Sun Ho (above, left), which was part of an evangelistic project called Crossover.
Judges in Singapore acknowledged that the six defendants did not make any personal gains from the misspent £28 million and always had the intention of using her music career for evangelism.
Business Times reported on Friday that the six defendants' charges and sentences were all reduced in severity on appeal.
Kong Hee is now due to spend three years and six months in jail rather than eight years. Of all six defendants, he received the biggest sentence.
According to the Straits Times, Kong Hee told his English-speaking congregation: "I've so much to say but if I can sum it up in one sentence, pastor wants to say: I'm so sorry for all the hurt, all the disappointment and all the painful ordeals you've been through.
"I really, really, really wish that I was and am a better, wiser, leader. Pastor is deeply sorry and sincerely asks for your forgiveness. Please forgive me.
"It has been a privilege to be your pastor. For many of you, I have pastored you since the day of your youth. It's been the greatest privilege of my life. That's all I have to say."
