Ong Beng Seng charged with two offences linked to Iswaran probe
The Straits Times|October 05, 2024
Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng was charged on Oct 4 with abetting a public servant in obtaining gifts and with abetting the obstruction of justice.
Samuel Devaraj and Wong Shiying
Ong Beng Seng charged with two offences linked to Iswaran probe

The two charges are linked to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau's (CPIB) investigations into former transport minister S. Iswaran, who was sentenced to 12 months' jail on Oct 3 for, among other things, accepting a number of valuable items from Ong.

Iswaran was also accused of accepting valuable items from Mr David Lum Kok Seng, the managing director of mainboard-listed construction company Lum Chang Holdings. But no charges will be brought against Mr Lum, said the Attorney-General's (AGC) on Oct 4.

Chambers According to court documents, Ong, 78, allegedly instigated Iswaran to obtain a valuable item in December 2022 by offering the then minister a trip from Singapore to Doha. The flight on Ong's private plane was valued at US$7,700 (S$10,400).

Ong also arranged 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, valued at $5,700, for Iswaran.

For this, Ong was charged with one count of abetment under Section 165, which makes it an offence for a public servant to accept anything of value from any person with whom he is involved in an official capacity without payment or with inadequate payment.

This story is from the October 05, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the October 05, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE STRAITS TIMESView All
Actress Rui En to sell bak kwa for a good cause
The Straits Times

Actress Rui En to sell bak kwa for a good cause

Local actress Rui En has made her first foray into entrepreneurship while also giving back to the community.

time-read
1 min  |
January 02, 2025
Squid Game 2 Tops Global Charts With 68 Million Views Amid Mixed Reactions
The Straits Times

Squid Game 2 Tops Global Charts With 68 Million Views Amid Mixed Reactions

The second season of Netflix's blockbuster survival series Squid Game attracted more than 68 million views since its debut on Dec 26, topping the company's streaming charts globally.

time-read
1 min  |
January 02, 2025
The Straits Times

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt finalize divorce after 8 years

Actor Brad Pitt and actress Angelina Jolie signed off on a divorce settlement on Dec 30, according to American media, marking a turning point in the eight-year legal saga.

time-read
1 min  |
January 02, 2025
It Ends With Us director sues NYT over Blake Lively story
The Straits Times

It Ends With Us director sues NYT over Blake Lively story

Justin Baldoni, the American director and co-star of the romance film It Ends With Us (2024), and his publicists sued The New York Times on Dec 31, claiming the news organization defamed them in a story about allegations by Blake Lively, his co-star, that she had been the victim of a smear campaign.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 02, 2025
Singapore Pop Icon Anita Sarawak Spotted in Las Vegas
The Straits Times

Singapore Pop Icon Anita Sarawak Spotted in Las Vegas

Even after a public absence of over a decade, Singaporean 1970s pop diva Anita Sarawak still piques the interest of regional media.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 02, 2025
The Straits Times

Babygirl not that hot, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl a quaint charmer

The story: Nicole Kidman won the best actress award at the 2024 Venice Film Festival for her performance of a chief executive who risks everything for an affair with an office intern (Harris Dickinson) half her age.

time-read
1 min  |
January 02, 2025
Streaming Sneaks Kick off the year with K-romance, nerdy heroes
The Straits Times

Streaming Sneaks Kick off the year with K-romance, nerdy heroes

In this monthly column, The Straits Times' streaming picks for January include a star-studded South Korean romcom, the return of a sleeper hit action thriller, a dangerous maths problem and a dead president.

time-read
1 min  |
January 02, 2025
I Am Seaweed playwright inspired by miso soup
The Straits Times

I Am Seaweed playwright inspired by miso soup

A friend enamoured with making miso soup during the Covid-19 lockdown in Sydney, Australia, was the source of unlikely personal revelation for Singaporean theatremaker Cheryl Ho.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 02, 2025
Exciting four hands and two pianos debut
The Straits Times

Exciting four hands and two pianos debut

It is a pleasure to encounter new piano duos – ensembles that hone the performance of music for four hands and two pianos into a fine art.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 02, 2025
2008 play finds new relevance in divisive world
The Straits Times

2008 play finds new relevance in divisive world

Playwright Haresh Sharma's monologue Eclipse, to be restaged in January, deals with the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan

time-read
2 mins  |
January 02, 2025