mf suggested one could comment out #define TT_CONFIG_OPTION_EMBEDDED_BITMAPS in lib/freetype/include/freetype/config/ftoption.h to DISABLE the SBIT support. Doing some quick testing, this allows Helmut 12pt to render "correctly", i.e. readable. This may or may not help with the CJK font.
tsk, if you would like to try, I put up a modified freetype.dll at http://waxdragon.homeip.net/~ford/freetype.dll. Give that one a try and see if it helps with your fonts.
WD -- <arty> don't question it ... it's clearly an optimization