[SINGAPORE] The court hearing for property magnate Ong Beng Seng to plead guilty has been rescheduled to Apr 25. This is so that the 81-year-old has more time to obtain further medical reports.
The businessman was supposed to be plead guilty on Apr 2.
Based on court records, the prosecution has no objection to the Hotel Properties managing director’s request on Wednesday (Mar 26).
The Malaysian’s counsel requested the State Courts to take the plea of Ong on the two charges he is facing on a date after the billionaire’s doctor has given further medical reports on his terminal illness.
The businessman was handed two charges in October 2024, due to his dealings with former transport minister S Iswaran.
The first charge, for abetting an offence under Section 165 of the Penal Code, relates to flights and a hotel stay. Ong allegedly offered Iswaran a trip to Doha in December 2022, and arranged for his private jet to fly the minister there. The flight was worth US$7,700.
Ong allegedly made arrangements through Singapore GP for a one-night stay at Four Seasons Hotel Doha, valued at S$4,737.63, and is said to have offered Iswaran a business-class flight from Doha to Singapore worth S$5,700.
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Section 165 prohibits public servants from accepting valuable items for free or inadequate payment from someone connected to business transactions or proceedings they handle.
The second charge was for allegedly instructing Singapore GP director Mok Chee Liang, in May 2023, to bill Iswaran for the business-class ticket from Doha to Singapore – an action that would have obstructed the course of justice.
Those found guilty of offences under Section 165 can be jailed for up to two years, fined, or both. The maximum penalty for obstructing the course of justice is jail time of up to seven years, a fine, or both. Abetting an offence would result in the same punishment if the offence is committed as a consequence of the abetment.
Iswaran was sentenced to a year’s jail term, having pleaded guilty to four charges under Section 165 and one for obstruction of justice.
