Ong Beng Seng pleads guilty to abetting obstruction of justice

His sentence will be released on 15 August.

Ong Beng Seng pleaded guilty to one charge of abetting the obstruction of justice in connection with the corruption scandal involving a former Transport Minister.

Ong is accused of giving the former Minister expensive gifts, including flight tickets and hotel accommodations, whilst they were engaged in official business.

Ong, the founder of Hotel Properties Limited and owner of the rights to the Singapore Grand Prix, was originally facing eight weeks of imprisonment. Both prosecutors and defence lawyers, however, agreed to impose a fine instead of a jail term due to Ong’s poor health.

According to medical reports tendered in Court, Ong, who is 79 years old, suffers from advanced multiple myeloma. This is an incurable form of cancer which has damaged his skeletal system and compromised his immune system, making him vulnerable to life-threatening infections.

Ong also suffers from other complications, which further exacerbate his risk of infection and place him at risk of gangrene. Ong reportedly stepped down from his post as managing director of Hotel Properties last April for health reasons.

Ong will be sentenced on 15 August.

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