Ong Beng Seng set to plead guilty on Jul. 3 to charges related to ex-minister S Iswaran

Billionaire hotelier Ong Beng Seng is set to plead guilty on Jul. 3 to the two charges brought against him in relation to former transport minister S Iswaran's case.

The date was set after his pre-trial conference on Jun. 10, reported The Straits Times and CNA.

Ong was originally expected to enter his plea on Apr. 2, but the hearing was adjourned after his lawyers requested more time to obtain his medical reports.

The 79-year-old, who is undergoing chemotherapy for bone marrow cancer, has previously been granted permission to travel overseas for medical treatment.

The charges

On Oct. 4, 2024, Ong was charged with one count of abetting Iswaran in obtaining gifts and another charge of aiding Iswaran in obstructing 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 stated 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 sees Ong accused 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.

Top photo by Mothership