Image Credits: Financial Times
Ong Beng Seng, a prominent property mogul in Singapore, has been charged with serious offenses in connection with the corruption scandal surrounding former transport minister S Iswaran, who recently received a one-year prison sentence for his role in the graft case. The charges against Ong, 78, include abetting a public servant in receiving gifts and obstructing justice, specifically linked to the benefits Iswaran accepted from Ong, including luxurious Formula 1 tickets and an extravagant trip to Doha.
Under Section 165 of Singapore’s Penal Code, which prohibits public officials from accepting gifts from individuals with whom they interact in their official capacity, Ong’s actions are under scrutiny. The allegations suggest that Ong encouraged Iswaran to accept a private flight to Doha in December 2022, which was valued at approximately SGD 7,700, along with arranging a lavish one-night hotel stay and a business-class return flight that cost an additional SGD 5,700.
Ong’s legal representation, led by lawyer Aaron Lee, has requested a six-week adjournment to prepare for the case, which the prosecution did not oppose. The next court hearing is scheduled for November 15.
Significantly, Ong is recognized as the figure who brought Formula 1 racing to Singapore, launching the inaugural night race in 2008 and holding the rights to the iconic Singapore Grand Prix. Court documents reveal that Iswaran was fully aware that the gifts he accepted were linked to the Singapore Grand Prix facilitation agreement, a contract negotiated between Singapore GP and the Singapore Tourism Board that covers the event from 2022 to 2028. As chairman of the Formula 1 steering committee, Iswaran played a pivotal role in these negotiations.
Ong’s involvement escalated during the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau’s probe into Iswaran, during which he informed the former minister that the agency had seized the flight manifest related to the Doha trip. This prompted Iswaran to ask Ong to bill him for the flight, a move that laid the groundwork for the obstruction of justice charge against him.
Iswaran’s recent conviction included multiple charges, leading to a 12-month sentence handed down by the court. The connection between Ong’s alleged actions and Iswaran’s obstruction of justice highlights the complexities of this high-profile case, which continues to unfold in Singapore’s legal landscape.