Ong Beng Seng fined S$30,000 for abetting former Singapore minister Iswaran in obstructing course of justice

SINGAPORE: Billionaire tycoon Ong Beng Seng was fined S$30,000 on Friday (Aug 15) for abetting the obstruction of justice in a case linked to former transport minister S. Iswaran.

Ong, 79, was handed the maximum fine for the offence after he had earlier pleaded guilty on Aug 4.

When Principal District Judge Lee Lit Cheng delivered the sentence, Ong looked ahead and had no reaction.

A second charge of abetting a public servant in obtaining gifts was taken into consideration during sentencing.

Judge Lee agreed with the prosecution and defence that judicial mercy should be exercised in this case due to Ong’s incurable medical conditions.

“The accused suffers from multiple myeloma, and a sentence of imprisonment would carry high and increased risks of endangering his life,” said the judge.

Judicial mercy is the discretionary power of Singapore’s courts to give a more lenient sentence because of exceptional mitigating circumstances.

The prosecution had earlier acknowledged that while eight weeks’ imprisonment would ordinarily be warranted in this case, they did not object to a fine for Ong as jail time would result in an increased risk of endangering his life.

Ong has been diagnosed with advanced multiple myeloma, a cancer that affects white blood cells, which are crucial to the body’s immune response.

His lawyer, Senior Counsel Cavinder Bull, had argued that his client’s medical condition has had a destructive impact on his skeletal system.

Imprisoning him would dramatically increase life-threatening risks for him, said SC Bull.

Ong arrived at the State Courts at around 2pm flanked by his lawyers and security team. This sparked a media frenzy, but Ong did not speak to reporters as he walked towards the entrance.

Ong’s offence

In December 2022, Ong asked Iswaran if the then minister would like to join him on a trip to Qatar.

Ong told Iswaran he would be his guest, travelling on his private jet. The businessman added he would take care of all of Iswaran’s expenses for the trip, including his hotel accommodation.

Iswaran accepted his offer.

On Dec 10, 2022, Iswaran travelled to Doha, Qatar, on Ong’s private jet, with the flight valued at around US$7,700 (S$10,410.40, as stated in court documents).

Iswaran checked into the Four Seasons Hotel, which cost $4,737.63 for a one-night stay.

After one night in Doha, Iswaran returned to Singapore on a business-class flight valued at $5,700, which Singapore GP also paid for.

How Ong’s actions came to light

In May 2023, while the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) was investigating a separate matter relating to Ong’s associates, it came across the flight manifest of the outbound flight on Ong’s private jet that Iswaran took to Doha.

On May 18, Ong was informed by his associates that CPIB had seized the flight manifest that had details of the Doha trip. Ong told Iswaran about this over the phone.

Iswaran asked Ong to have Singapore GP bill him for the Doha trip, including the flight to Singapore on Dec 11, 2022.

Ong agreed and had Singapore GP director Mok Chee Liang arrange the payment, and told Mok to keep proper records of this.

On May 24, 2023, Mok e-mailed Iswaran’s personal assistant with an invoice for the flight from Doha to Singapore.

Iswaran then issued a cheque for $5,700 to Singapore GP, which the prosecution said had a tendency to obstruct the course of justice, as it made it less likely that he would be investigated by CPIB in relation to the Doha trip.

The prosecution said Ong also knew that Iswaran’s act of paying for the flight from Doha to Singapore was likely to obstruct the course of justice.

On Oct 3, 2024, Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months’ jail after he pleaded guilty to five charges, including four over obtaining valuable items as a public servant.

Health conditions

Ong’s lawyers said he suffered from a “devastating cocktail of medical problems”. These include:

Advanced multiple myeloma, a cancer that affects white blood cells, which are crucial to the body’s immune response. Ong was diagnosed in 2020.

A hollowed out spinal vertebrae caused by the cancer. A radiology photo of this was shown to the court.

A metal rod inserted in the spine, which could become infected.

“Intractable and relentless” diarrhoea, which puts him at risk of hypotension and acute kidney injury.

Peripheral vascular disease of both feet, with a non-healing toe wound that places him at risk of infection and gangrene.

Risk of falls that could result in permanent disability or life-threatening injury. – The Straits Times/ANN