Cancer-stricken Ong Beng Seng arrives for sentencing, Singapore News
The 79-year-old Malaysian pleaded guilty on Aug 4 to one charge of abetting Iswaran in obstructing the course of justice. A second charge of abetting a public servant in obtaining gifts will be taken into consideration for sentencing.
Before his hearing scheduled for 2.30pm, Ong arrived wearing a white shirt and a mask.
He remained silent as he walked into court alongside his lawyers and staff.
Ong suffers from multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer, and other health issues.
If convicted of abetting the obstruction of justice, he may face a jail term of up to seven years, or a fine, or both.
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At the Aug 4 hearing, the defence asked the court to exercise judicial mercy, on grounds that sending Ong to prison would significantly endanger his life.
Judicial mercy is when the courts give leniency in the sentencing of offenders with exceptional personal circumstances, on the basis of humanitarian concern.
It has been exercised in cases where an offender has terminal illness, or dire medical conditions that endanger their life if they were to be imprisoned.
Senior Counsel Cavinder Bull from Drew & Napier had told District Judge Lee Lit Cheng that his client is severely immunocompromised and at risk of infection, and is also a high fall risk patient.
"Mr Ong is currently living on a very narrow margin, with no room for error," Bull said, adding that the billionaire is cared for by a team of doctors including specialists.
Bull also argued that a jail term should not be imposed on Ong, even if judicial mercy is not granted, citing his ill health as a mitigating factor.
The senior counsel said Ong had simply received a request from Iswaran to be billed for the Doha-Singapore flight worth $5,700 and complied with it, and that his client regrets his actions.
The prosecution had said it acknowledges that judicial mercy is warranted in Ong's case and would be appropriate instead of a custodial sentence.
It asked for Ong to be given the maximum fine, which would be $30,000 in this case.
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lim.kewei@asiaone.com
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