02:13The State Court of Singapore charged Malaysian property tycoon Ong Beng Seng with obstruction of justice and abetment on Friday, over his alleged involvement in the case of the former transport minister of Singapore S. Iswaran.
Footage shows Ong Beng Seng being mobbed by journalists as he arrives at the court and again on his way to his car after he had been charged.
Retail store manager Axel Suryajaya described the charges against the tycoon as 'shocking,' adding that Singapore is known for its 'low crime' and 'low corruption'.
"I guess corruption does exist deep behind the scenes where you do not really know or see it. Well, I guess justice is served," he continued.
Previously, in July the anti-graft agency of Singapore issued an arrest warrant for Ong as it sought information about his dealings with Iswaran. The tycoon was charged by the court the day after the former transport minister was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
78-year-old Malaysian billionaire Ong is the managing director of the Singapore-listed Hotel Properties Limited. Prosecutors allege that Ong provided the former transport minister gifts worth over $300,000, including tickets to English Premier League matches, the F1 Grand Prix, a ride on a private jet to Doha and a stay at the Four Seasons resort, according to media reports.
"Maybe it [sentence of Iswaran] is a bit too light and it could have been heavier because he is or he used to be a minister. So, Ong Beng Seng, maybe, hopefully, gets the full seven years," said Axel.
The Singapore Supreme Court sentenced Iswaran to 12 months in prison for hindering justice and collecting more than $400,000 Singapore dollars ($308,880) in gifts, marking the first jailing of an ex-cabinet member in the city-state.
The former minister was detained in July of last year. He first asserted his innocence, stating that he would fight to clear his name, but then pleaded guilty to the five counts brought before the court.
He is the first Singaporean minister convicted of corruption in almost 50 years. A national development minister was investigated for bribery in 1986 but died before any charges were brought.
'Justice is served' - Malaysian tycoon charged over alleged 'corruption' in Singapore as ex-minister convicted for gifts from billionaire
The State Court of Singapore charged Malaysian property tycoon Ong Beng Seng with obstruction of justice and abetment on Friday, over his alleged involvement in the case of the former transport minister of Singapore S. Iswaran.
Footage shows Ong Beng Seng being mobbed by journalists as he arrives at the court and again on his way to his car after he had been charged.
Retail store manager Axel Suryajaya described the charges against the tycoon as 'shocking,' adding that Singapore is known for its 'low crime' and 'low corruption'.
"I guess corruption does exist deep behind the scenes where you do not really know or see it. Well, I guess justice is served," he continued.
Previously, in July the anti-graft agency of Singapore issued an arrest warrant for Ong as it sought information about his dealings with Iswaran. The tycoon was charged by the court the day after the former transport minister was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
78-year-old Malaysian billionaire Ong is the managing director of the Singapore-listed Hotel Properties Limited. Prosecutors allege that Ong provided the former transport minister gifts worth over $300,000, including tickets to English Premier League matches, the F1 Grand Prix, a ride on a private jet to Doha and a stay at the Four Seasons resort, according to media reports.
"Maybe it [sentence of Iswaran] is a bit too light and it could have been heavier because he is or he used to be a minister. So, Ong Beng Seng, maybe, hopefully, gets the full seven years," said Axel.
The Singapore Supreme Court sentenced Iswaran to 12 months in prison for hindering justice and collecting more than $400,000 Singapore dollars ($308,880) in gifts, marking the first jailing of an ex-cabinet member in the city-state.
The former minister was detained in July of last year. He first asserted his innocence, stating that he would fight to clear his name, but then pleaded guilty to the five counts brought before the court.
He is the first Singaporean minister convicted of corruption in almost 50 years. A national development minister was investigated for bribery in 1986 but died before any charges were brought.
The State Court of Singapore charged Malaysian property tycoon Ong Beng Seng with obstruction of justice and abetment on Friday, over his alleged involvement in the case of the former transport minister of Singapore S. Iswaran.
Footage shows Ong Beng Seng being mobbed by journalists as he arrives at the court and again on his way to his car after he had been charged.
Retail store manager Axel Suryajaya described the charges against the tycoon as 'shocking,' adding that Singapore is known for its 'low crime' and 'low corruption'.
"I guess corruption does exist deep behind the scenes where you do not really know or see it. Well, I guess justice is served," he continued.
Previously, in July the anti-graft agency of Singapore issued an arrest warrant for Ong as it sought information about his dealings with Iswaran. The tycoon was charged by the court the day after the former transport minister was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
78-year-old Malaysian billionaire Ong is the managing director of the Singapore-listed Hotel Properties Limited. Prosecutors allege that Ong provided the former transport minister gifts worth over $300,000, including tickets to English Premier League matches, the F1 Grand Prix, a ride on a private jet to Doha and a stay at the Four Seasons resort, according to media reports.
"Maybe it [sentence of Iswaran] is a bit too light and it could have been heavier because he is or he used to be a minister. So, Ong Beng Seng, maybe, hopefully, gets the full seven years," said Axel.
The Singapore Supreme Court sentenced Iswaran to 12 months in prison for hindering justice and collecting more than $400,000 Singapore dollars ($308,880) in gifts, marking the first jailing of an ex-cabinet member in the city-state.
The former minister was detained in July of last year. He first asserted his innocence, stating that he would fight to clear his name, but then pleaded guilty to the five counts brought before the court.
He is the first Singaporean minister convicted of corruption in almost 50 years. A national development minister was investigated for bribery in 1986 but died before any charges were brought.