Ong Beng Seng, a Malaysian tycoon based in Singapore, was spared jail but fined S$30,000 (US$23,400) on Friday for abetting the obstruction of justice in a case linked to the city-state’s former transport minister.
The 79-year-old, who helped bring Formula One to Singapore, was fined nearly two weeks after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
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Malaysian hotel tycoon Ong Beng Seng leaves the State Court in Singapore on Aug. 4, 2025. Photo by AFP |
Ong, who has incurable cancer, was charged last October with helping then Singapore transport minister S. Iswaran cover up evidence in a probe by the country’s anti-corruption bureau. Iswaran was jailed for accepting gifts as a public servant and for obstructing justice.
Delivering the sentence Friday, Principal District Judge Lee Lit Cheng said Ong’s medical condition warranted mercy.
“A sentence of imprisonment would carry a high and increased risk of endangering his life,” the judge said.
“I therefore agree with defence and prosecution that exercise of judicial mercy is warranted,” she said.
Ong owns Singapore-based Hotel Properties Limited and is the rights holder to the Singapore Grand Prix Formula One race.
He and Iswaran were instrumental in bringing the street circuit night race to Singapore in 2008.
Iswaran was jailed last year after pleading guilty to accepting gifts worth more than S$400,000 (US$$310,000).
He was also found guilty of obstructing justice in the city-state’s first political graft trial in nearly half a century. He completed his sentence on June 6.
