Singapore-based billionaire owning resorts in Maldives charged with two offenses

Dato' Ong Beng Seng, a Singapore-based Malaysian billionaire business tycoon who owns several resorts in the Maldives, has been charged with two offenses over his involvement in the case of former Singaporean transport Minister S Iswaran.

In this regard, Ong, 78, was charged with abetting a public servant in obtaining gifts and another charge of obstructing justice for providing items such as Formula 1 Grand Prix tickets and a trip to Doha to Iswaran.

Iswaran pled guilty and was sentenced to one year in prison for obtaining gifts worth about 403,400 in Singapore Dollars (USD 313,200) over the course of seven years from two businessmen, including Ong, whom he considered his friends.

As per foreign media outlets, the preliminary hearing in the case has been scheduled to November 15^th.

Notably, Ong was arrested as part of a corruption probe in July of last year. However, he was released in bail.

Ong’s business Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) operates eight resorts in the Maldives;

• Gililanfushi in Kaafu Atoll
• Holiday Inn Kandooma Maldives in Kaafu Atoll
• Four Seasons Maldives at Kuda Huraa in Kaafu Atoll
• Four Seasons Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru in Baa Atoll
• Four Seasons Maldives Private Island at Voavah in Baa Atoll
• Intercontinental Maldives Maamunagau in Raa Atoll
• Six Senses Laamu in Laamu Atoll
• Kanuhura Maldives in Lhaviyani Atoll

Ong had rendered much assistance to the Maldives during the COVID-19 pandemic. His company, HPL donated 15 ventilators and 100,000 masks in this trajectory.