Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, who faces charges tied to former transport minister S Iswaran’s corruption case, has been diagnosed with bone marrow cancer, according to a report by CNA.
According to CNA, sources close to Ong have confirmed the condition, with one identifying it as multiple myeloma—a rare form of bone marrow cancer involving malignant plasma cell growth.
The 79-year-old businessman has been undergoing chemotherapy and previously sought permission from the court to travel abroad for medical treatment. His request was granted on 30 October 2024.
However, a spokesperson for Ong and Hotel Properties Limited (HPL), where Ong is managing director, declined to comment further on his health.
Ong, a Malaysian based in Singapore and widely recognised for introducing Formula 1 to the city-state in 2008, is currently navigating legal proceedings connected to Iswaran’s corruption charges.
On 4 October 2024, Ong was handed two charges.
The first charge accuses him of abetting Iswaran in securing an all-expenses-paid trip to Doha in December 2022, valued at about S$20,850.
The second charge alleges that Ong abetted the obstruction of justice in May 2023 by paying S$5,700 to Singapore GP for a business-class flight from Doha to Singapore over the same trip, after the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) had initiated its investigation.
These charges mirror two offences for which Iswaran pleaded guilty. The former minister received a 12-month jail sentence on 3 October 2024 and began serving it four days later.
However, Iswaran was granted early release on 7 February 2025 under Singapore’s Conditional Remission System (CRS) and Home Detention Scheme (HDS).
According to the Singapore Prison Service (SPS), Iswaran qualified for the programme based on his good conduct during incarceration, low risk of re-offending, and strong family support.
The scheme allows inmates to serve part of their sentence at home under electronic monitoring and strict conditions. Iswaran will spend the next four months under home detention, followed by four months on remission, during which he remains subject to restrictions.
Ong’s legal situation remains unresolved, with his case still at the pre-trial conference stage.
The latest pre-trial conference, held on 7 February 2025, was adjourned to 28 February to allow the defence additional time to review its position.
Court records show that Ong has been given a reply to his legal representations, and his bail has been extended.
If convicted under Section 165 of Singapore’s Penal Code for abetting Iswaran, Ong faces up to two years in prison, a fine, or both. The obstruction of justice charge under Section 204A carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail, a fine, or both.
As Ong’s health condition progresses, the possibility of it affecting the trial timeline remains unknown.
