Singapore Tycoon Pleads Guilty in Graft Probe

News

Reported by

Alena Koroleva
OCCRP
August 4, 2025

Singaporean billionaire Ong Beng Seng pleaded guilty Monday to abetting obstruction of justice in a corruption case involving former Transport Minister S. Iswaran. Prosecutors said Ong instructed the Singapore Grand Prix director in May 2023 to retroactively bill Iswaran for a business-class flight from Doha amid an investigation into illicit gifts.

The charge is part of a broader probe into Ong’s alleged offer of private jet travel and luxury accommodation to the minister during his time in office. Ong, 79, founder of Hotel Properties Ltd. and a key figure behind Singapore’s Formula 1 night race, was also charged with offering prohibited gifts to public servants—a charge taken into account for sentencing. He stepped down from his executive role at HPL earlier this year due to advanced cancer. Sentencing is set for August 154.

Read other articles tagged with:

Corruption Show more
Singapore Show more
Ong Beng Seng Show more