Ex-minister Iswaran's case: Ong Beng Seng pleads guilty to abetting obstruction of justice, seeks judicial mercy

Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng has pleaded guilty on Monday (Aug 4) to abetment of obstruction of justice in a case related to ex transport minister S. Iswaran.

The 79-year-old admitted to one charge of abetting Iswaran in obstructing the course of justice by helping the latter pay $5,700 to Singapore GP for a business class flight ticket from Doha to Singapore.

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

The prosecution had, in court, noted that the defence asked that the court impose a fine on Ong on the grounds of judicial mercy. 

Judicial mercy is when the courts give leniency in the sentencing of offenders with exceptional personal circumstances. It has been exercised in cases where an offender has terminal illness, or dire medical conditions that endanger their life if they were to be imprisoned. 

Ong suffers from multiple myeloma, a rare type of bone marrow cancer. 

'Living on a very narrow margin'

Ong is represented by Senior Counsel Cavinder Bull and Adam Maniam from Drew & Napier, and Senior Counsel Jason Chan, Lee Bik Wei and Cheryl Chong from Allen & Gledhill.

Citing medical experts, Bull told the court that sending Ong to prison would significantly endanger his life.

"Mr Ong is currently living on a very narrow margin, with no room for error," Bull said, adding that it's fortunate that his client lives just 20 minutes away from the National University Hospital.

"We remain vigilant as Mr Ong tends to underestimate his condition when he is unwell," he said, pointing out to how Ong had not realised his blood pressure was dangerously low at one point.

The defence also pointed out that Ong suffers from peripheral vascular disease on both feet, with a non-healing wound on his toe.

Cancer has also compromised his spine, with a metal rod inserted — one that also poses a risk of infection.

The defence added that their client is also at a high fall risk which could result in paralysis, permanent disability or life-threatening injury.

The prosecution said that judicial mercy is warranted in Ong's case and would be appropriate instead of a custodial sentence.

It is seeking to impose the maximum fine on Ong, which would be $30,000 in this case.

Jail term should not be imposed: Bull

In defence, Senior Counsel Bull said a jail term should not be imposed, even if judicial mercy is not granted by the courts.

Bull said Ong had simply received a request from Iswaran to be billed for the Doha - Singapore flight and complied with. Proper records of the transaction were also kept.

"Mr Ong regrets his actions. He should not have complied with Mr Iswaran's request," he said, calling it a "momentary mistake".

Ong will be sentenced next Friday (Aug 15) afternoon.

In 2020, a woman with terminal breast cancer, who was wheelchair-bound and weighed 30kg, was granted judicial mercy and had her one-week jail term for contempt of court reduced to a $5,000 fine.

She had been assessed by prison medical staff to be unfit for jail time, reported The Straits Times then.

Ong had earlier arrived at the State Courts amid the gloom of a rainy Monday morning, to plead guilty to a charge related to Iswaran's case.

The Malaysian, widely known for bringing the Formula 1 night race to Singapore in 2008, arrived just before 9am, and walked into the State Courts building with the help of his staff and lawyers.

Ong, wearing a white shirt and black mask, remained silent when approached by the media.

His hearing was scheduled for 9.30am.

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Members of the media were seen braving the rain outside the State Courts earlier this morning, awaiting Ong's arrival.

The prosecution is represented by Deputy Chief Prosecutor Christopher Ong and Deputy Public Prosecutors Sarah Siaw and Kelvin Chong.

Principal District Judge Lee Lit Cheng is overseeing the proceedings.

The hearing, however, was delayed for about 45 minutes after two false fire alarms disrupted the court proceeding. 

Charged with abetting a public servant

Ong was charged in October 2024 with abetting a public servant — then-minister Iswaran — in obtaining gifts, and abetting the obstruction of justice.

He was expected to plead guilty on August 4 to one count of abetting the obstruction of justice, with the charge of abetting a public servant in obtaining gifts to be taken into consideration.

The billionaire has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer which is incurable.

Ong had earlier indicated he will plead guilty on April 2, but the hearing was later rescheduled to July 3.

It was pushed back again after prosecutors and Ong's lawyers asked for more time to file sentencing submissions, with pre-trial conferences held in July.

The former managing director of Hotel Properties Ltd has reportedly been out on $800,000 bail.

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Ong is accused of instigating Iswaran to obtain a valuable item in December 2022 by offering to fly him to Doha on his private plane — a trip valued at $10,400.

He had gifted Iswaran a one-night stay in Four Seasons Hotel Doha, with a value of $4,737.63, and a business class flight from Doha to Singapore paid for by Singapore GP, valued at $5,700. The entire trip was worth about $20,850.

According to previous media reports, Ong allegedly alerted Iswaran that the Doha flight manifest had been seized by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau.

Ong allegedly abetted the obstruction of justice by aiding Iswaran to make a payment of $5,700, the cost of the business class flight ticket, to Singapore GP in May 2023.

Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months' jail in October 2024 after pleading guilty to receiving items as a public servant from Ong and David Lum, managing director of construction company Lum Chang Holdings, and the obstruction of justice. 

He was placed on home detention on Feb 7, and finished his term on June 6, according to the Straits Times.

If convicted of abetting the obstruction of justice, Ong may face a jail term of up to seven years, or a fine, or both.

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lim.kewei@asiaone.com