Singapore, Feb 28 – Prominent Singaporean property tycoon Ong Beng Seng is set to plead guilty to charges related to a corruption case involving former Indian-origin transport minister S Iswaran, as confirmed by a court update on Friday.
Ong, 79, attended a pre-trial conference earlier in the day concerning two offences committed in October 2024. Following the session, his intention to plead guilty was reflected in the court’s case management system, as reported by Channel News Asia. His bail of SGD 800,000 was extended, and he is scheduled to enter his plea on April 2.
Charges Against Ong Beng Seng
The first charge against Ong alleges that he abetted Iswaran in receiving an all-expenses-paid trip to Doha worth approximately SGD 20,850 (USD 15,500) in December 2022. The second charge accuses Ong of obstructing justice by aiding Iswaran in May 2023, when the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) had begun its probe. Ong allegedly paid SGD 5,700 to Singapore GP for a business-class flight ticket from Doha to Singapore as part of the same trip.Iswaran’s Conviction and Sentencing
Former transport minister S Iswaran, who was closely associated with Ong through Singapore’s Formula 1 racing events, was sentenced in October 2024 to 12 months in jail. He had pleaded guilty to four charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which prohibits public servants from accepting valuable gifts from individuals with whom they have official dealings.Due to good behavior, Iswaran was placed under home detention on February 7. His conviction stemmed from receiving gifts and favors from Ong and construction tycoon Lum Kok Seng while in office. These included musical tickets, Formula 1 event access, football match tickets, bottles of alcohol, and a Brompton bicycle.
He also admitted to obstructing justice by repaying the cost of a flight to Doha belatedly. In total, Iswaran was found to have accepted valuables worth SGD 403,300 over seven years. An additional 30 charges under Section 165 were taken into consideration during his sentencing.
Ong Beng Seng’s Legacy and Legal Battle
Beyond his role as a hotelier, Ong is credited with bringing Formula 1 to Singapore in 2008. His involvement in the prestigious annual sporting event connected him with several key government officials, including Iswaran.With Ong set to plead guilty in April, the high-profile case continues to highlight Singapore's stringent anti-corruption laws and their enforcement, even against prominent business figures and politicians.