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Attorney-General's Chambers to decide on action against hotelier Ong Beng Seng after Iswaran's corruption case concludes

SINGAPORE — The decision on what action to take against hotelier Ong Beng Seng will only be made after the conclusion of S Iswaran's case, the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) said on Thursday (Jan 18) in response to media queries.

Businessman Ong Beng Seng seen at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sept 16, 2023.

Businessman Ong Beng Seng seen at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sept 16, 2023.

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  • The Attorney-General's Chambers will decide on what action to take against Mr Ong Beng Seng when the proceedings against former Transport Minister S Iswaran is over
  • Iswaran is alleged to have obtained gifts from Mr Ong, including tickets for theatre plays and football matches
  • Mr Ong, 77, co-founded Hotel Properties Limited and is chairman of race promoter Singapore Grand Prix
  • He had reportedly worked closely with Iswaran to bring F1 here 
  • Law experts said Mr Ong may end up being a prosecution witness in Iswaran's trial

SINGAPORE — The decision on what action to take against hotelier Ong Beng Seng will only be made after the conclusion of S Iswaran's case, the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) said on Thursday (Jan 18) in response to media queries.

Former Transport Minister Iswaran, 61, was is facing 27 charges related to bribery and corruption, as well as obstructing justice. He also resigned from the Cabinet and as a Member of Parliament.

Several charges involve gifts that Mr Ong allegedly gave to Iswaran, including tickets for theatre plays and football matches.

Mr Ong, who is Malaysian and based in Singapore, was widely credited as the person who brought Formula 1 to Singapore, and he also owns several businesses ranging from hotels to luxury fashion together with his wife Christina Ong.

AGC said: "In addition to S Iswaran, CPIB (Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau) investigated the role of other persons in this matter, including Mr Ong Beng Seng.

"The Attorney-General’s Chambers will take a decision in respect of the investigations against Mr Ong and others, after the case against Mr S Iswaran has been completed, including the presentation of evidence in court."

Law experts who spoke to TODAY said that AGC's statement is not unusual especially for cases involving corruption, and that Mr Ong could likely play a role as the prosecution's witness in Iswaran's trial.

WHO IS ONG BENG SENG?

The 77-year-old is the co-founder of Hotel Properties Limited (HPL), a publicly listed hospitality group that includes the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and Marriott International, as well as Hard Rock Cafe outlets in multiple countries.

In total, the group operates 39 hotels and resorts in 15 countries including Britain, Italy, Indonesia, the Maldives, Singapore, South Africa and Thailand.

Apart from hotels, the group is involved in property as well as the entertainment and lifestyle industries. 

As HPL's director, Mr Ong was involved in an earlier political controversy surrounding his “unsolicited” discounts of between 5 per cent and 12 per cent on new condominium apartments in Nassim Jade and Scotts 28 purchased by then Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew and his son Lee Hsien Loong, who was Deputy Prime Minister at the time and is now Prime Minister.

In 1996, the Singapore Exchange reprimanded Mr Ong's company for not disclosing details of discounts given to Dr Lee Suan Yew, a board director who was the brother of Lee Kuan Yew, and to another director's wife.

The stock exchange said that HPL did not break any laws, but it was not forthcoming in responding to its requests for information.

Last July, HPL announced Mr Ong's involvement in the CPIB probe into a case linked to Iswaran.

As chairman of race promoter Singapore GP, Mr Ong owns the rights to the annual F1 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, and reportedly worked closely with Iswaran, who was Minister of State for Trade and Industry at the time, to launch the first F1 night race here in 2008.

Iswaran said at the time: "Over the past decade, we have developed a strong partnership with Mr Ong Beng Seng and his team at Singapore GP, as well as Mr Bernie Ecclestone and Formula 1, to continually enhance the Singapore race and sustain its tourism appeal and economic value."

Mr Ong is believed to have had business ties with Iswaran since when the latter was a managing director at state investment firm Temasek Holdings from 2003 to 2006.

In 2022, the Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore GP signed a seven-year contract renewal until 2028 — the longest renewal so far, with previous deals ranging between four and five years.

Mr Ong's spouse is also a high-profile business figure. Ms Ong runs Como Hotels and Resorts, luxury fashion retailer Club 21 and London-listed handbag maker Mulberry. 

Business magazine Forbes reported that Mr Ong and his wife had a combined net worth of US$1.75 billion (S$2.31 billion) in 2022. They have two children.

'NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET'

Singapore Management University's law lecturer Eugene Tan said that it is not uncommon in corruption cases for the public prosecutor to proceed against the alleged receiver of the bribe first.

"I see the public prosecutor's approach as signalling the strong public interest in ensuring that the case against Iswaran, when he was a Cabinet minister, be dealt with swiftly and resolutely and with due process," Associate Professor Tan said.

Mr Melvin Loh, a senior lecturer at the Singapore University of Social Science's School of Law, said that it is "well within their rights" for the prosecution and AGC to not charge Mr Ong yet.

There are various reasons for this, one of which is that Mr Ong could serve as a prosecution witness.

Both law experts said that this is likely, though Mr Loh said that Mr Ong's role can only be confirmed when the prosecution and defence counsel provide their list of witnesses for Iswaran's trial.

Another reason may be that the "evidence or information may not be forthcoming in implicating both individuals", Mr Loh added.

Assoc Prof Tan said that although Mr Ong may not be charged now, both he and Mr Loh believes that he is not out of the woods yet.

It is an offence under Singapore's corruption laws for both the giver and receiver of a bribe.

"Due process would likely result in the public prosecutor deciding how best to proceed against Mr Ong after the conclusion of the case against Mr Iswaran," Assoc Prof Tan added.

Mr Loh said that by that time, evidence heard during Iswaran's trial may contribute to a case against Mr Ong.

Related topics

AGC court crime Ong Beng Seng S Iswaran

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