Singapore property billionaire Ong Beng Seng pleaded guilty on 4 August 2025 to a corruption-related charge connected to former Singapore transport minister S Iswaran.
Ong, aged 79, admitted to one count of abetting Iswaran in obstructing the course of justice by assisting him in paying S$5,700 (US$4,480) for a business class ticket from Doha to Singapore.
This payment was made months after the flight and only came to light when the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) discovered Iswaran’s name on the manifest while probing an unrelated matter.
A second charge against Ong, for instigating Iswaran to obtain flights and hotel accommodation despite knowing his official functions were linked to Ong’s business dealings, was taken into consideration for sentencing.
The hearing at the State Courts was overseen by Principal District Judge Lee Lit Cheng. The prosecution team included Deputy Chief Prosecutor Christopher Ong and Deputy Public Prosecutors Sarah Siaw, Kelvin Chong and Goh Qi Shuen.
Representing Ong were Senior Counsel Cavinder Bull and Adam Maniam from Drew & Napier, alongside Senior Counsel Jason Chan, Lee Bik Wei and Cheryl Chong from Allen & Gledhill.
Proceedings were delayed after two false fire alarms forced the court to stand down. The hearing, initially set for 9:30am, began at about 10:20am once the situation was resolved.
Ong was first scheduled to plead guilty on 2 April 2025.
However, his lawyers requested more time to secure medical reports. A second hearing planned for 3 July 2025 was postponed as prosecution and defence required further time to file submissions on sentencing.
The matter proceeded through several pre-trial conferences before finally being heard on 4 August 2025, more than two years after investigators uncovered the first evidence.
Ong was formally charged on 4 October 2024 with abetment of a public servant in obtaining gifts, and with abetment of obstruction of justice under Section 204A of Singapore’s Penal Code.
Court documents show that in December 2022, Ong arranged for S Iswaran to travel on his private jet from Singapore to Doha. The flight was valued at approximately US$7,700 (S$10,400).
Alongside the flight, Ong allegedly provided Iswaran with a one-night stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Doha worth S$4,737.63, as well as a business class return ticket to Singapore costing S$5,700.
On or around 17 May 2023, the CPIB, while investigating a separate case involving Ong’s associates, discovered the flight manifest indicating Iswaran’s presence on Ong’s private jet.
The following day, Ong’s associates informed him that CPIB had seized the manifest and questioned them about the trip. Between 18 May and 23 May 2023, Ong called Iswaran to inform him that CPIB had obtained the manifest.
Iswaran acknowledged the seizure and spoke with Ong again the next day, asking him to have Singapore GP issue him an invoice for the trip expenses, including the return flight. Ong agreed and instructed a director at Singapore GP to arrange the billing and maintain proper records.
On 24 May 2023, the director sent an invoice to Iswaran’s personal assistant. Iswaran subsequently issued a cheque for S$5,700 to Singapore GP.
Prosecutors stated that Iswaran’s act of making a delayed payment for the flight ticket obstructed the course of justice by making it less likely he would face investigation over the Doha trip. Ong, they argued, was fully aware of this implication.
Ong was born in Sabah, Malaysia, in 1946 and moved to Singapore at the age of four.
He studied at Anglo-Chinese School and later earned a degree in insurance from Britain before working in Europe and South-east Asia.
In 1972, Ong married Christina Fu, a notable businesswoman. In 1975, he joined Kuo International, an oil trading firm owned by his father-in-law Peter Fu.
The wealth he accumulated there reportedly funded his ventures in property development.
Ong founded Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) in 1980, expanding it into a major property player with prime assets on Orchard Road. HPL was listed in Singapore in 1982.
As of 31 December 2024, HPL’s hotel division managed 41 hotels in 17 countries. Ong stepped down as managing director of HPL in April 2025.
Ong, known for his passion for motorsport, is widely credited with bringing Formula One to Singapore in 2008. He secured the rights for the Singapore Grand Prix and negotiated with Formula One Group’s then-chief executive Bernie Ecclestone to stage the sport’s first night race.
S Iswaran, who chaired the F1 steering committee, led the Singapore Government’s negotiations with Singapore GP. The two men worked closely in the mid-2000s to secure the event, which became a highlight on the F1 calendar.
Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months’ jail on 3 October 2024 after being found guilty of accepting multiple gifts from Ong.
He was placed on home detention from 7 February 2025 until his release on 6 June 2025.
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