Latest news with #Section165
New Straits Times
18-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Senior enforcement officer nabbed for allegedly accepting cash, valuable items worth RM14,000
KOTA BARU: A senior enforcement officer was arrested by the Kelantan Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today for allegedly receiving valuable items and cash amounting to RM14,000 from a contractor. Sources said the 40-year-old man was detained after giving his statement at the state MACC office around 1pm. "MACC officers detained the man after he completed giving his statement to investigators," the source said. The arrest was reportedly made following a complaint lodged by the contractor several months ago. The case is being investigated under Section 165 of the Penal Code for accepting a valuable item without adequate consideration, potentially with corrupt intent, by a public servant. It is understood that the officer previously served in the Machang district but was transferred to another state a few years ago. Kelantan MACC director Rusli Husain confirmed the arrest.
Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Shares of Ong Beng Seng's HPL jump more than 9%, prompting SGX query
Ong Beng Seng stepped down as HPL's managing director on April 29 but is still HPL's controlling shareholder. PHOTO: ST FILE SINGAPORE - Shares of Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) rose as much as 9.3 per cent to $4.72 in active trading on May 16, prompting a query from Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo). The counter was up 8.8 per cent at $4.70 at the midday trading break. About 388,000 shares had changed hands, well above the stock's recent trading volume. Trading data also showed the price rally began on May 15. SGX RegCo asked the company to explain the 'unusual price movements', and to promptly disclose any previously unannounced materially sensitive information that might account for the trading activity. The regulator also asked if HPL was aware of any other possible reasons for the trading activity, and to confirm its compliance with listing standards. It added that if appropriate, the company could consider requesting a trading halt. The surge in HPL's share price follows Ong Beng Seng stepping down as managing director on April 29 by not seeking re-election at the company's annual general meeting held that day. The property tycoon is still HPL's controlling shareholder. The Edge Singapore in a report on May 5 said that with Ong's exit from the helm of the company, HPL 'with its freehold Orchard Road landbank that is undervalued by the market, is primed as a takeover target or opening the door for new capital partners'. Ong is known as the man who brought Formula One (F1) to Singapore in 2008 – the first night race in the sport's history. He is set to plead guilty in a court case linked to former transport minister S. Iswaran. He was granted permission to travel overseas from April 28 to May 16 for work and medical reasons. Ong is reportedly being treated for multiple myeloma, a form of white blood cell cancer. In 2024, Ong was charged with one count of abetment under Section 165, which makes it an offence for a public servant to accept anything of value from any person with whom he is involved in an official capacity without payment or with inadequate payment. HPL has interests in 41 hotels across 17 countries as at end-2024, according to its annual report. Its famous brands include Como Hotels & Resorts, Concorde Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Hard Rock Hotels and Marriott International. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Shares of Ong Beng Seng's HPL jump more than 9%; SGX queries, suggests trading halt if needed
Ong Beng Seng stepped down as HPL's managing director on April 29 but is still HPL's controlling shareholder. PHOTO: ST FILE SINGAPORE - Shares of Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) rose as much as 9.3 per cent to $4.72 in active trading on May 16, prompting a query from Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo). The counter was up 8.8 per cent at $4.70 at the midday trading break. About 388,000 shares had changed hands, well above the stock's recent trading volume. Trading data also showed the price rally began on May 15. SGX RegCo asked the company to explain the 'unusual price movements', and to promptly disclose any previously unannounced materially sensitive information that might account for the trading activity. The regulator also asked if HPL was aware of any other possible reasons for the trading activity, and to confirm its compliance with listing standards. It added that if appropriate, the company could consider requesting a trading halt. The surge in HPL's share price follows Ong Beng Seng stepping down as managing director on April 29 by not seeking re-election at the company's annual general meeting held on April 29. The property tycoon is still HPL's controlling shareholder. The Edge Singapore in a report on May 5 said that with Ong's exit from the helm of the company, HPL 'with its freehold Orchard Road landbank that is undervalued by the market, is primed as a takeover target or opening the door for new capital partners'. Ong is known as the man who brought Formula One (F1) to Singapore in 2008 – the first night race in the sport's history. He is set to plead guilty in a court case linked to former transport minister S. Iswaran. He was granted permission to travel overseas from April 28 to May 16 for work and medical reasons. Ong is reportedly being treated for multiple myeloma, a form of white blood cell cancer. In 2024, Ong was charged with one count of abetment under Section 165, which makes it an offence for a public servant to accept anything of value from any person with whom he is involved in an official capacity without payment or with inadequate payment. HPL has interests in 41 hotels across 17 countries as at end-2024, according to its annual report. Its famous brands include Como Hotels & Resorts, Concorde Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Hard Rock Hotels and Marriott International. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New Paper
10-05-2025
- Business
- New Paper
Ong Beng Seng granted permission to visit 3 more cities while overseas
Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, who is currently overseas, has been given permission to travel to three more cities but the agreed-upon duration of his trip remains unchanged. Ong, who is facing charges in a case linked to former transport minister S. Iswaran, had earlier been granted approval by the court to leave Singapore from April 28 to May 16 to travel to the US, Britain and Italy for work and medical reasons. On May 9, a Singapore Courts spokeswoman said in response to queries from The Straits Times that the court approved Ong's application to vary some of the destinations to include Venice and Bari in Italy, and Dubrovnik, a city in Croatia. These three cities were added to the list of locations that Ong had said he was expected to visit, which includes London, Boston, Miami, New York and Florence. The spokeswoman added that the terms of his bail while he is overseas remain unchanged. As part of the conditions, the 79-year-old Malaysian must provide the full details of where he will be staying and his contact numbers to the investigating officer (IO) handling his case or an officer acting under the latter. Ong must also remain contactable by the IO and surrender his passport to the officer within 24 hours upon return to Singapore. His current bail of $800,000 has been doubled to $1.6 million. In 2024, the billionaire was charged with one count of abetment under Section 165, which makes it an offence for a public servant to accept anything of value from any person with whom he is involved in an official capacity without payment or with inadequate payment. Ong is known as the man who brought Formula One (F1) to Singapore in 2008 - the first night race in the sport's history. Iswaran was chairman of the F1 steering committee and the Government's chief negotiator with Singapore GP on business matters related to the race. The two men had worked in the mid-2000s to convince then Formula One Group chief executive Bernie Ecclestone to make Singapore the venue for the sport's first night race. According to court documents, the businessman in December 2022 allegedly instigated Iswaran's flight on Ong's private plane from Singapore to Doha. The flight was valued at US$7,700 (S$10,400), according to court documents. Ong is also said to have arranged for Iswaran a one-night stay at Four Seasons Hotel Doha, valued at $4,737.63, and a business class flight from Doha to Singapore, valued at $5,700. He had allegedly alerted Iswaran that the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau had seized the flight manifest for the December 2022 trip, prompting Iswaran to ask the tycoon to bill him for the flight to avoid investigations. For this alleged offence, he was given a second charge - the abetment of obstruction of justice. Iswaran, 62, faced a total of 35 charges, most of which involved Ong. Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months' jail in October 2024 for, among other things, obtaining a number of valuable items from Ong. ST earlier reported that Ong intends to plead guilty. His next pre-trial conference is on June 10. If convicted of abetting a public servant in obtaining gifts, an offender can be jailed for up to two years, fined or both. If convicted of abetting obstruction of justice, an offender can be jailed for up to seven years, fined or both.
Straits Times
09-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Ong Beng Seng granted permission to visit 3 more cities while overseas
A Singapore Courts spokeswoman added that the terms of Ong Beng Seng's bail while overseas remain unchanged. PHOTO: ST FILE SINGAPORE – Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, who is currently overseas, has been given permission to travel to three more cities but the agreed upon duration of his trip remains unchanged. Ong, who is facing charges in a case allegedly linked to former transport minister S. Iswaran, had earlier been granted approval by the court to leave Singapore from April 28 to May 16 to travel to the United States, Britain and Italy for work and medical reasons. On May 9, a Singapore Courts spokeswoman said in response to queries by The Straits Times that the court approved Ong's application to vary some of the destinations to include Venice and Bari in Italy, and Dubrovnik, a city in Croatia. These three cities were added to the list of locations that Ong had said he was expected to visit, which includes London, Boston, Miami, New York and Florence. The spokeswoman added that the terms of his bail while overseas remain unchanged. As part of the conditions, the 79-year-old Malaysian must provide the full details of where he will be staying and his contact numbers to the investigating officer (IO) handling his case or an officer acting under the latter. Ong must also remain contactable by the IO and surrender his passport to the officer within 24 hours upon return to Singapore. His current bail of $800,000 has been doubled to $1.6 million. In 2024, the billionaire was charged with one count of abetment under Section 165, which makes it an offence for a public servant to accept anything of value from any person with whom he is involved in an official capacity without payment or with inadequate payment. Ong is known as the man who brought Formula One (F1) to Singapore in 2008 – the first night race in the sport's history. Iswaran was the chairman of the F1 steering committee and the Government's chief negotiator with Singapore GP on business matters related to the race. The two men had worked in the mid-2000s to convince then Formula One Group chief executive Bernie Ecclestone to make Singapore the venue for the sport's first night race. According to court documents, the businessman in December 2022 allegedly instigated Iswaran to fly on Ong's private plane from Singapore to Doha. The flight was valued at US$7,700 (S$10,400), according to court documents. Ong is also said to have arranged for Iswaran a one-night stay at Four Seasons Hotel Doha, valued at $4,737.63, and a business class flight from Doha to Singapore, valued at $5,700. He had allegedly alerted Iswaran that the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau had seized the flight manifest for the December 2022 trip, prompting Iswaran to ask the tycoon to bill him for the flight to avoid investigations. For this alleged offence, he was given a second charge – the abetment of obstruction of justice. Iswaran, 62, faced a total of 35 charges, most of which involved Ong. Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months' jail in October 2024 for, among other things, obtaining a number of valuable items from Ong. ST had earlier reported that Ong intends to plead guilty. His next pre-trial conference is on June 10. If convicted of abetting a public servant in obtaining gifts, an offender can be jailed for up to two years, fined or both. If convicted of abetting obstruction of justice, an offender can be jailed for up to seven years, fined or both. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
