Singapore charges property mogul linked to jailed minister’s case

SOON TO FACE COURT Ong Beng Seng attends the Formula One F1-Singapore Grand Prix, which he brought to the citystate in September. —REUTERS

A Singapore court on Friday charged a property billionaire with obstructing justice and abetting offenses by a disgraced ex-transport minister jailed a day earlier.

Ong Beng Seng, the 78-year-old owner of Hotel Properties Ltd. and rights holder to the Singapore Grand Prix Formula One race, is accused of giving high-value gifts to ex-minister S. Iswaran, who on Thursday became the first former Cabinet member to be jailed in Singapore.

The high-profile government graft case has been the subject of major intrigue in Singapore—a wealthy financial hub that offers ministers salaries of more than S$1 million (US$771,247) to deter graft and prides itself on its reputation for clean governance.

Iswaran was imprisoned for 12 months for obstructing justice and improperly receiving gifts as a public servant, with Ong a central part of the prosecution’s case.

Ong has so far issued no comment on the accusations. Channel NewsAsia (CNA) said he entered no plea on Friday and did not indicate how he would plead.

Bill for jet ride

Hotel Properties Ltd., requested a trading halt early on Friday following Thursday’s announcement he would be charged.

Prosecutors during Iswaran’s trial said the ex-minister received gifts worth more than $300,000, including tickets to English Premier League soccer matches, the F1 Grand Prix, London musicals and a ride on a private jet to Doha.

Ong was charged with one count of abetting Iswaran’s receiving of valuables and one count of obstruction of justice, according to the charge sheet.

Policing the police: A question of jurisdiction

The court during Iswaran’s trial heard how the minister had asked Ong to bill him for the Doha trip after he discovered the antigraft agency had seized the flight manifest for an unrelated case.

Justice Vincent Hoong, who presided over Iswaran’s case, on Thursday said the minister’s request to be billed was a deliberate move to obstruct the course of justice and try to evade investigation.

CNA said Ong’s court hearing was adjourned until pretrial proceedings on Nov. 15. —REUTERS

Reuters

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