Billionaire hotelier Ong Beng Seng was charged on Oct. 4 in relation to former transport minister S Iswaran's case.
Photos and videos of the 78-year-old accompanied by his lawyer while making his way to court were published all over the news.
Photo by Daniel Seow.
Spotlight on billionaire recently
Friday's court appearance only added to the attention that Ong has been getting recently.
Besides his slight frame and bespectacled countenance, he managed to pull off what is now recognised as his signature look: A tucked out shirt, either short or long-sleeved, adorned with stripes.
Fan of "Thom Browne" label
And not just any shirt with stripes.
It turns out, Ong's choice of men's wear is from the "Thom Browne" label, which is known for pieces that feature a distinctive striped design on the pockets or sleeves, as well as the occasional visible label attached to the shirt's bottom, on the front left.
Ong's choice of top on Friday was most likely the "Thom Browne Blue Flared Collar Shirt".
via Cdek Shopping
A cursory search online revealed that the shirt costs ₽37,107 (Russian rubles) or £287, which comes up to about S$500.
Ong also wore the same or similar top while on the Singapore F1 race track previously.
via Singapore GP Ptd Ltd
Long-sleeved version
A long-sleeved shirt that Ong wore, when he was photographed with Iswaran previously, was most likely a "4-Bar Repp Stripe Shirt".
via S Iswaran
It retails for S$590.
via HBX
Judge "unpersuaded" by "close friends" argument from Iswaran's defence
Iswaran was sentenced on Oct. 3 for his offences, the day before Ong appeared in court to be charged.
On Iswaran's case, Justice Vincent Hoong said that Iswaran's culpability cannot be considered low due to his status as a minister.
This was so even without evidence that Iswaran exercised influence over contracts in favour of Ong and Lum, the judge said.
He added that he was "unpersuaded" by Iswaran's defence that the gifts given by Lum were in the context of their close relationship as friends.
Charged with abetment of Iswaran's offences
Ong faces one charge of abetting Iswaran in obtaining gifts and another charge of aiding Iswaran to obstruct justice.
Ong’s first charge of abetment involves allegedly instigating Iswaran to obtain a trip to Doha with him sometime in December 2022, according to charge sheets seen by Mothership.
Ong is accused of making arrangements for:
- An outbound flight on his private plane from Singapore to Doha, worth about S$10,410.40
- Through Singapore GP Pte Ltd, a one-night stay in Four Seasons Hotel Doha, worth S$4,737.63
- Through Singapore GP Pte Ltd, a business class flight from Doha to Singapore, worth S$5,700
The charge sheet states that Iswaran knew the trip was done in the business of the facilitation agreement for the Singapore Grand Prix 2022 to 2028, between Singapore GP Pte Lid and the Singapore Tourism Board.
This had a connection with Iswaran’s official functions as minister and chairman of the F1 Steering Committee.
The second charge for obstruction of justice accuses Ong of intentionally aiding Iswaran to make payment of S$5,700 to Singapore GP Pte Ltd for the business class ticket from Doha to Singapore.
Ong allegedly instructed a Mok Chee Liang to bill the cost of the flight to Iswaran.
In light of Iswaran making the payment, the act was "likely to obstruct the course of justice”, the charge sheet stated.
In court on Oct. 4, he did not indicate how he would plead.
Ong's case has been adjourned to Nov. 15 and he remains out on S$800,000 bail.
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Top photos via Cdek Shopping & Mothership
