Singapore-based billionaire Ong Beng Seng has pleaded guilty to a charge linked to a rare corruption case that surfaced last year and involved a senior government official.
The 79-year-old hotel magnate admitted to helping former transport minister Subramaniam Iswaran hide evidence during an ongoing investigation.
Ong entered the guilty plea on August 4, 2025.
The case centers around luxury gifts and overseas trips provided by Ong to Iswaran during the period they were involved in official dealings.
Among the gifts was an all-expenses-paid trip to Qatar in 2022, which included a private jet flight.
At the time, Iswaran was involved in overseeing Formula 1 negotiations on behalf of the government.
Singapore’s laws require ministers to declare all gifts from people they have official business with and to pay the market value of such gifts if they choose to keep them.
Ong will be sentenced on August 15. While the charges carried the possibility of several years in prison, both the prosecution and defense agreed on asking the court to impose a fine due to Ong’s deteriorating health.
Ong is battling a rare form of bone marrow cancer, and has previously been allowed to travel abroad for treatment and work.
Court documents revealed that Ong helped bill Iswaran for a commercial flight from Doha to Singapore only after the former minister realized he might come under scrutiny.
The flight cost around S$5,700. The move came after authorities obtained records linked to another investigation involving Ong’s associates.
A second charge, related to Iswaran accepting the entire Qatar trip worth over S$20,000, was also considered.
Ong, who was born in Malaysia and later moved to Singapore, founded Hotel Properties Limited (HPL), which owns and manages major hotel brands like Four Seasons and Marriott.
He is also known for playing a key role in bringing Formula 1 to Singapore.
Earlier this year, Ong steeped down as managing director of HPL to focus on his health.