Latest news with #Attorney-General's Chambers
CNA
2 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Pre-trial conference for Ong Beng Seng case rescheduled
SINGAPORE: A pre-trial conference set for the case of property tycoon Ong Beng Seng has been rescheduled to next week, after a request was made to push it back. The 79-year-old Malaysian, known for bringing Formula 1 to Singapore in 2008, was first charged with two offences in October 2024. These correspond to two charges admitted to by former transport minister S Iswaran. Ong was set to have the hearing on Wednesday morning (Jul 23) but that has been shifted to Jul 28. According to court records, a request was made to reschedule the court event and it was approved. It was not indicated who made the request. CNA has contacted Ong's PR firm and the Attorney-General's Chambers for more information. The latest development comes after a pre-trial conference on Jul 8 resulted in another adjournment for "parties to file revised papers", following a statement from the judiciary that both sides wished to file further submissions on sentencing. A pre-trial conference is a hearing before a judge away from the public and media, where both sides discuss administrative matters. This can be any issue that needs to be ironed out before going to open court, and does not always mean a trial is going to take place despite the name. It is not uncommon for a case to go through many rounds of pre-trial conferences before going to open court for a guilty plea or trial. Ong faces two charges, first for abetting Iswaran in obstructing the course of justice by helping the latter pay S$5,700 (US$4,480) to Singapore GP for a business class flight ticket from Doha to Singapore. This was a delayed payment allegedly made months after the flight itself and only after the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) discovered Iswaran's name on the flight manifest when investigating a separate case. The second charge is for instigating Iswaran to obtain flights and a hotel stay from Ong. This was when Iswaran knew Ong had business dealings linked with his official functions. Ong was previously set to plead guilty on Jul 3. Ong was the managing director of Hotel Properties Limited (HPL), which previously stated in a Singapore Exchange (SGX) announcement that Ong would plead guilty to the charge of obstructing justice, while admitting to have the other charge taken into consideration for sentencing. He stepped down on Apr 29 for medical reasons, the company said. If convicted of the charge under Section 165 of the Penal Code for abetting Iswaran in obtaining valuables, Ong could face a jail term of up to two years, a fine, or both. If convicted of obstructing justice, the charge under Section 204A, Ong could face a jail term of up to seven years, a fine, or both.
Free Malaysia Today
14-07-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Govt to decide on Sabah's 40% revenue entitlement on Sept 12, says Fadillah
Deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof said the proposal, submitted by the Sabah government, is based on Articles 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The federal government will decide on Sabah's proposal to reclaim a 40% net revenue entitlement at the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) meeting scheduled for Sept 12, says deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof. He said the proposal, submitted by the state government, is based on Articles 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution and will be brought to the prime minister's attention at the meeting, Sabah Media reported. Fadillah, who chaired a special MA63 technical committee meeting in Kota Kinabalu today, said the session was focussed on Sabah's constitutional revenue claims and possible interim solutions. 'We've heard the presentations and proposed solutions from the Sabah government. These proposals have also received feedback from the finance ministry and the Attorney-General's Chambers at the federal level,' he was quoted as saying. Fadillah also acknowledged the ongoing challenge by the Sabah Law Society, which may have legal implications. 'Therefore, we must proceed cautiously, but our goal is to reach a mutually agreed solution outside of court,' he said. Asked whether a final decision could be expected before Malaysia Day, he did not give any confirmation but reiterated that the federal-level meeting was already fixed for Sept 12. The revenue sharing formula has been a contentious issue for decades. Sabah politicians have called for the federal government to honour the state's entitlement to 40% of the amount which exceeds the net revenue derived in 1963. Use of the formula has been suspended since 1974, with the federal government paying increased special grants to Sabah and Sarawak.
