Court documents reveal that in December 2022, Ong arranged a private jet trip for Iswaran to attend the World Cup in Doha, Qatar. The trip included a one-night stay at the Four Seasons Hotel and a return business-class flight, all paid for by Ong.
Bloomberg via Bangkok post
Almost a year after former Singapore Transport Minister S. Iswaran was sentenced to jail over corruption charges, a new chapter has unfolded in the country’s most high-profile political scandal in recent years. Singaporean billionaire hotel tycoon Ong Beng Seng has pleaded guilty to charges connected to the same case.
The 79-year-old businessman, known for his role in bringing Formula One to Singapore, admitted to providing lavish gifts to Iswaran, including business-class flights, luxury hotel stays, tickets to Formula 1 races and English Premier League matches, and even a private jet trip.
Background on Iswaran’s Case
S. Iswaran, 62, was sentenced in February 2024 to 12 weeks in jail after pleading guilty to receiving gifts worth over SGD384,000 (approximately USD283,000 at the time) from Ong between 2015 and 2022. The gifts were allegedly given in exchange for advancing Ong's business interests, including the renewal of the Formula 1 Grand Prix contract in Singapore.
Singapore’s strict anti-corruption laws prohibit public officials from accepting gifts in connection with their official duties unless they reimburse the government at market value. Under Section 165 of Singapore’s Penal Code, accepting any valuable thing without consideration from someone involved in business related to the official's duties constitutes a criminal offence.
Obstruction of Justice Allegations
Court documents reveal that in December 2022, Ong arranged a private jet trip for Iswaran to attend the World Cup in Doha, Qatar. The trip included a one-night stay at the Four Seasons Hotel and a return business-class flight, all paid for by Ong.
When Ong later learned that the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) had seized the flight records, he reportedly alerted Iswaran. The former minister then asked Ong to invoice the travel expenses to Singapore GP — the company that organizes the Formula One race — to disguise the trip as a corporate expense.
This move raised further legal concerns, potentially amounting to obstruction of justice. While Iswaran already faced sentencing, Ong’s involvement in trying to conceal the gifts further implicates both parties in the attempt to interfere with an ongoing investigation.
Despite pleading guilty, Ong is not expected to receive a jail term. Due to his advanced age and medical condition — he is reportedly suffering from multiple myeloma, a rare and incurable blood cancer — both the prosecution and defense have jointly appealed to the court for judicial mercy. Instead of imprisonment, they have requested that Ong be sentenced to the maximum permissible fine under Singapore’s anti-corruption laws.
