A driving force behind the Singapore Grand Prix has been issued a notice of arrest as part of a corruption probe. Billionaire property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, of Hotel Properties Limited, has been arrested in connection with an investigation into the city state's Minister for Transport S. Iswaran. Both are figures with significant roles in F1's groundbreaking event, which became the first night race in 2008. Singapore's Prime Minister instructed Iswaran to take a leave of absence as a probe into corruption takes place, though there is no link between the investigation and the Grand Prix. A statement from HPL's Board of Directors stated it “has been notified by Mr Ong Beng Seng, Managing Director of the company, that he has been requested by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (“CPIB”) to provide information in relation to his interactions with Minister S Iswaran. "No charges have been filed against Mr Ong."
Full cooperation
“Mr Ong is cooperating fully with CPIB and has provided the information requested,” the statement added. “As this is an ongoing matter, he is unable to provide further details at this point. He has undertaken to provide updates to the Board if there are subsequent material developments.” This is the latest in a line of Grands Prix officials being linked to corruption probes. The Vietnam Grand Prix, initially slated for 2020, was removed from the 2021 calendar after Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung was arrested on corruption charges.
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