Singapore GP boss finally charged in corruption probe

The man who played a major role in bringing F1 to Singapore has been charged in one of the most high-profile anti-corruption graft probes in the country's history.

Singapore GP promoter and property billionaire Ong Beng Seng has been charged with obstructing justice and abetting offences, the latter in relation to former transport minister S Iswaran, who was jailed last week for his role in the graft scandal.

That ended one part of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau case launched in July last year, with the focus now on Ong.

Civil servants in Singapore are paid handsomely, around one million Singapore dollars [almost £600,000] to discourage graft, a form of political corruption defined as ‘the unscrupulous use of a politician’s authority for personal gain’.

Iswaran resigned from his cabinet post in January this year after being hit with 27 charges, including "obtaining gratification as a public servant". 

The charge sheet against Iswaran revealed he received and was gifted more than 160,000 Singapore dollars (£93,850 GBP), in flights, hotels, football and music tickets, as well as those to the Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

Iswaran was allegedly gifted the items in return for advancing the business interests of Ong, whose company, Hotel Properties Ltd, has a portfolio of around 40 hotels. He was handed a 12-month prison sentence for obstructing justice and improperly receiving gifts as a public servant.

Upon his appearance in a Singapore court to answer the charges, Ong entered no plea, nor indicated how he would plead.

The hearing has been adjourned until pre-trial proceedings on November 15.