18-1-2024 (SINGAPORE) Former Transport Minister, S Iswaran, is facing multiple charges for allegedly receiving items worth over S$384,000 from billionaire hotelier Ong Beng Seng. These charges include flights, hotel stays, tickets to shows, football matches, and various editions of the Singapore F1 Grand Prix.
According to official charge sheets, Iswaran is accused of accepting “valuable things” from Ong between 2015 and 2022. Among the items received were tickets to 12 plays and musicals in the UK, including popular shows like “Thriller,” “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” and “Hamilton.” The total value of these tickets is estimated to be around S$10,693.
Additionally, Iswaran allegedly received tickets to several football matches between 2015 and 2018, such as West Ham United FC v Everton FC and Arsenal FC v Tottenham Hotspur FC. The value of these tickets is reported to be S$5,646.
One of the major allegations against Iswaran is his acceptance of tickets to the Singapore F1 Grand Prix. He is said to have received Green Room tickets, Boardwalk tickets, Twenty3 tickets, and general admission tickets to various editions of the race between 2016 and 2022. The total value of these tickets amounts to S$347,152.
Furthermore, Iswaran is accused of receiving gratification from Ong in the form of a trip to Doha in December 2022. Ong, the man behind Singapore GP, the company that brought the Formula 1 Grand Prix to Singapore, allegedly provided Iswaran with a private plane ride from Singapore to Doha, worth S$10,410.40. Iswaran also purportedly enjoyed a one-night stay at the Four Seasons Doha, valued at S$4,737.63, and a business class flight from Doha back to Singapore, costing S$5,700. These arrangements were facilitated through Ong’s company, Singapore GP.
These charges against Iswaran have raised concerns about potential corruption and conflicts of interest. Iswaran, who was also the chairman of the F1 steering committee, is accused of using his position as a minister to advance Ong’s business interests.
