Ong Beng Seng pleads guilty to abetting obstruction of justice in case involving former minister S Iswaran
Iswaran had been minister-in-charge of trade relations and was the government's chief negotiator with the Singapore GP on F1-related business matters.
Ong, the former managing director of Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) who brought the Formula 1 night race to Singapore in 2008, turned up in court in a white shirt and black scarf.
In December 2022, Ong extended an invitation to visit Qatar to Iswaran, and the pair flew to Doha on Ong's private jet. Iswaran then returned to Singapore on a business-class flight.
The court heard that sometime in May 2023, Ong spoke to Iswaran over the phone and informed him that the flight manifest for the Doha trip had been seized by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) in the course of its investigations into a separate matter. Iswaran acknowledged this.
The next day, Ong spoke to Iswaran again by phone. In that call, Iswaran asked Ong to have Singapore GP bill him for the Doha trip-related expenses including the business-class flight to Doha. Ong agreed to this.
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On Monday (Aug 4), Ong admitted to 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.
The other charge, for abetting an offence under Section 165, was taken into consideration for sentencing.
Section 165 prohibits public servants from accepting valuable items for free or inadequate payment from someone connected to business transactions or proceedings they handle.
The charge that was taken into consideration related to flights and a hotel stay.
Ong 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 made arrangements for a one-night stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Doha, valued at S$4,737.63, and offered him a business-class flight from Doha to Singapore worth S$5,700.
The 79-year-old, who wore a black mask to court, is known to suffer from an incurable cancer known as advanced multiple myeloma which has damaged his immune system, making him vulnerable to life-threatening infections.
He also faces other complications which further exacerbate his risk of infection and place him at risk of gangrene.
Ong was first expected to plead guilty in April but this was postponed after his lawyers asked for more time to obtain further medical reports.
After Ong was granted permission to travel to the United States and Europe in April and May for medical and work purposes, he was then scheduled to plead guilty in July.
However, the court hearing was rescheduled to allow the prosecution and defence more time to file further submissions for the case.
Ong's legal team includes Senior Counsel Cavinder Bull, the chief executive officer of Drew & Napier and lawyers from Allen & Gledhill led by Senior Counsel Jason Chan.
The case is being heard by Principal District Judge Lee Lit Cheng who is expected to deliver a verdict shortly.
If convicted of obstruction of justice, Ong can be jailed for up to seven years, fined or both.
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