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Singapore charges tycoon Ong Beng Seng over case linked to ex-minister Iswaran

Ong faces one charge of abetting a public servant to obtain valuable gifts and another of obstructing justice

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Malaysian property tycoon Ong Beng Seng arrives at the State Courts in Singapore on Friday. Photo: Reuters
Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng was charged in court on Friday with abetting former Singapore transport minister S Iswaran’s offences.
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Ong, widely credited for bringing Formula One grand prix racing to the city state, faces one charge of abetting a public servant to obtain valuable gifts and another of obstructing justice.

Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment on Thursday for receiving more than S$400,000 (US$308,518) worth of items from Ong and businessman Lum Kok Seng and obstructing justice.

The court heard on Friday that in December 2022, Ong allegedly instigated Iswaran to obtain a Doha trip with him without consideration.

This involved arranging a flight on his private plane from Singapore to Doha valued at S$10,410, and through Singapore Grand Prix, arranging a one-night stay in Four Seasons Hotel in the Qatari capital worth S$4,737.63 and a business class ticket from the city to Singapore worth S$5,700.

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Ong, 78, also owns the rights to the Singapore GP and Iswaran was chairman of the event’s steering committee.

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