<\/p>\nwas fined $30,000 on Aug 15<\/p>\n
<\/a> after he pleaded guilty to one charge of abetting the obstruction of justice in a case linked to former transport minister S. Iswaran.<\/p>\n
The property tycoon had admitted to arranging to bill Mr Iswaran belatedly for $5,700 to Singapore GP for a business class flight ticket from Doha to Singapore. This was after the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) came across the flight manifest while it was investigating a separate matter relating to Mr Ong\u2019s associates.<\/p>\n
Mr Ong\u2019s other charge, which was taken into consideration for sentencing, was for abetting Mr Iswaran, who was then a public servant, in obtaining gifts.<\/p>\n
The judge had agreed with both the prosecution and defence that judicial mercy should be exercised in Mr Ong\u2019s case due to his ill health. Mr Ong was diagnosed with advanced multiple myeloma in 2020.<\/p>\n
In September, Hougang MP Dennis Tan had filed a parliamentary question asking under what circumstances would permanent residents and work pass holders have their PR status or work pass revoked when they commit a criminal offence in Singapore.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam replied that foreigners who break Singapore\u2019s laws or engage in undesirable conduct may have their passes or permits cancelled and be prohibited from re-entry into the country. This also applies to PRs and work pass holders.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a framework to assess such cases based on the facts, the nature and severity of the incident, the person\u2019s family roots here, and the contributions of the person to Singapore,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Mr Ong was born in Malaysia in 1946 and came to Singapore at the age of four. He worked in international insurance underwriting and broking in Europe, London and South-east Asia before joining Motor and General Underwriters Investment Holdings in the late 1960s.<\/p>\n
Mr Ong married\u00a0Ms Christina Fu, herself a prominent businesswoman, in 1972. In 1975, he joined Kuo International, an oil trading company owned by his father-in-law, Mr Peter Fu.<\/p>\n
There, he made millions, accurately predicting the ups and downs of oil prices. The capital earned during this time is said to have helped finance his later investments and property developments.<\/p>\n
In 1980, Mr Ong set up Hotel Properties Limited and acquired hotels around the world, and properties in prime locations such as Orchard Road. He was also credited with bringing Formula 1 racing to Singapore.<\/p>\n