[SINGAPORE] Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng is expected to plead guilty to two charges on Jul 3, in a case involving former transport minister S Iswaran.
This was announced after a pre-trial conference on Tuesday (Jun 10).
Ong, who was formerly managing director of Hotel Properties Ltd (HPL), is widely known as the man who brought the Formula 1 night race to Singapore in 2008, and owns the rights to the Singapore Grand Prix.
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.
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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.
Ong has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare form of white blood cancer, and had the mention of his guilty plea rescheduled to a later date to give him time to obtain further medical reports.
From Apr 28 to May 16, Ong was visiting England, the United States and Italy for both medical and work-related purposes.
Iswaran has completed his jail sentence and is no longer under prison custody. Last October, he was sentenced to 12 months’ jail after pleading guilty to four charges under Section 165.
