Hotelier Ong Beng Seng, the founder and managing director of Hotel Properties Limited (HPL), which own the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Singapore, has been issued a notice of arrest by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), according to The Straits Times.
He has been asked to provide information to the CPIB about his interactions with Transport Minister S.Iswaran for their investigations.
Statement from Hotel Properties Limited
Provision of Information to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau by Managing Director
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Hotel Properties Limited (the ‘Company’) wishes to announce that it has been notified by Mr Ong Beng Seng. Managing Director of the Company, that he has been requested by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (“CPIB, to provide information in relation to his interactions with Mnister S Iswaran. Mr Ong has further updated the Board as set out below.
No charges have been filed against Mr Ong. He will be travelling from 14 July 2023 and will be surrendering his passport to CPIB upon his return to Singapore. He has been given a notice of arrest and has posted bail of $100.000.
Mr (Mg is cooperating fully with CPIB and has provided the information requested. As this is an ongoing matter, he is unable to provide further details at this point. He has undertaken to provide updates to the Board if there are subsequent material developments.
The Nominating Committee has assessed the above and has determined that Mr Ong continues to be suitable to carry out his duties and responsibilities as Managing Director. The Board and the Nominating Committee wil continue to monitor the progress of the matter and the Nominating Committee will continue to re-assess the suitability of the continued appontrnent of Mr Ong.
The Company will update on any material developments in respect of this matter.
For and on behalf of Hotel Properties Limited
Joanna Lim
Company Secretary
14 July 2023
Recap
Singapore Minister of Tranport S. Iswaran was previously reported as assisting the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), who have reportedly uncovered a case that has prompted the need for a thorough inquiry involving Minister Iswaran and several others.
He was subsequently told to take a leave of absence by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong until the investigations are complete, with his duties being taken over by Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat, who will assume the role of Acting Minister for Transport.