Ong Faces Charges for Aiding Iswaran in Corruption Case and Obstruction of Justice

Ong Faces Charges Related to Iswaran's Corruption Case

Ong, a Malaysian residing in Singapore, faces two charges related to former Minister Iswaran's corruption case. The first charge accuses him of aiding Iswaran in obtaining an all-expenses paid trip to Doha, worth approximately S$20,850, in December 2022. The second charge alleges that Ong obstructed justice by paying for Iswaran's business class flight ticket from Doha to Singapore in May 2023, while the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau was investigating the case.

These charges mirror the offenses for which Iswaran pleaded guilty and received a 12-month jail sentence in October 2023. He began his sentence shortly after and was recently moved to home detention.

Ong's case remains in the pre-trial conference stage, with no indication of his plea. His latest pre-trial conference was adjourned to February 28th to allow the defense to review its position.

Following his charges, Ong received permission from the court to visit London and the United States for medical treatment. The nature of his condition was not disclosed in court.

If convicted of abetting Iswaran, Ong could face up to two years in jail, a fine, or both. The obstruction of justice charge carries a potential sentence of up to seven years in jail, a fine, or both.