[SINGAPORE] Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, who was expected to plead guilty on Jul 3 in a case involving former transport minister S Iswaran, has had his court hearing adjourned.
A request to reschedule the court hearing was approved by the State Courts on Wednesday (Jul 2).
The hearing, which is now taking place on Jul 8, is no longer a plead guilty mention but instead a pre-trial conference.
At a pre-trial conference, usually held in chambers, the court and the parties involved in a case meet. The aim is to sort out administrative matters and potentially schedule future court dates. It does not mean the case will necessarily proceed to trial.
A Singapore Courts spokesman said that the parties involved applied for the Jul 3 further mention to be adjourned to a later date, for parties to file further written submissions on the sentencing.
An Attorney-General’s Chambers spokesman said the further mention for a guilty plea “will be refixed for a later date”.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
Case involving Iswaran
Ong, former managing director of Hotel Properties Ltd, is widely known for bringing the Formula 1 night race to Singapore in 2008. He owns the rights to the Singapore Grand Prix (GP).
He faces one charge of abetting offences under Section 165 of the Penal Code – which forbids public servants from accepting gifts from people involved with them in an official capacity – and one charge of abetting the obstruction of justice.
The first charge, for abetting an offence under Section 165, relates to flights and a hotel stay. Ong allegedly offered Iswaran a trip to Doha in December 2022, and arranged for his private jet to fly him there. The flight was worth US$7,700.
Ong also allegedly made arrangements through race promoter Singapore GP for a one-night stay at Four Seasons Hotel Doha, valued at S$4,737.63, and is said to have offered Iswaran a business-class flight from Doha to Singapore worth S$5,700.
The second charge was for allegedly instructing Singapore GP director Mok Chee Liang, in May 2023, to bill Iswaran for the business-class ticket from Doha to Singapore – an action that would have obstructed the course of justice.
Those found guilty of offences under Section 165 can be jailed for up to two years, fined, or both. Abetting an offence would result in the same punishment, if the offence is committed as a consequence of the abetment.
The maximum penalty for obstructing the course of justice is jail time of up to seven years, a fine, or both.
