18-7-2023 (SINGAPORE) Ong Beng Seng, the Managing Director of Hotel Properties Limited, arrived in Singapore on July 17th aboard a private jet from Bali. Ong had been granted permission to travel overseas while on bail, which was set at S$100,000.
According to The Straits Times, Ong’s plane landed at Seletar Airport at approximately 5:15 pm local time. He was seen leaving the airport with his wife, Christina Ong, in a black Audi sedan.
The board of directors of Hotel Properties had previously announced that Ong would be surrendering his passport to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) upon his return to Singapore. In a general announcement provided to the Singapore Exchange (SGX) on July 14th, the company stated that Ong has not been charged with any offenses, despite receiving a notice of arrest and posting bail. The announcement also mentioned that Ong is fully cooperating with the CPIB and has provided them with the requested information.
The company’s nominating committee has assessed the situation and determined that Ong is still suitable to carry out his duties as the managing director. However, they stated that they will continue to monitor the progress of the matter and re-evaluate Ong’s continued appointment.
Both Ong Beng Seng and Transport Minister S Iswaran were arrested on July 11th, according to a statement from the CPIB. Both individuals were subsequently released on bail, and their passports were impounded as part of the bail conditions. The CPIB explained that subjects on bail can request to travel overseas, and such requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Ong’s request to travel overseas was approved by the CPIB.
As investigations are still ongoing, the CPIB did not provide further details regarding the arrests.
