Iswaran’s 27 charges: the details

Jeanette Tan
Published Thu, Jan 18, 2024 · 10:12 AM

HERE is a list of all the 27 charges, and allegations against former transport minister S Iswaran:

1. Nov 2015: Accepted tickets to Thriller from Ong Beng Seng

In November 2015, Iswaran obtained for himself two tickets to the show Thriller worth about £200 (S$429) for “no consideration” from billionaire Ong Beng Seng through his company Como Holdings (UK) Ltd.

2. Nov 2015: Accepted tickets to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time from Ong

In November 2015, Iswaran obtained for himself two tickets to the show The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time worth about £270 (S$580) for “no consideration” from Ong through Como Holdings (UK) Ltd (Como). Iswaran knew Ong has a connection with Iswaran’s role as chairman of the F1 Steering Committee.

3. Nov 2015: Accepted tickets to West Ham vs Everton football match

In November 2015, Iswaran got for himself two tickets to the football match for West Ham United vs Everton FC (Boleyn Ground) worth about £468 (S$1,006) for “no consideration” from Ong through Como.

4. Nov 2015: Accepted tickets to Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur football match

In November 2015, he obtained for himself two tickets to the football match for Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur (Emirates) worth about £550 (S$1,182) for “no consideration” from Ong through Como.

5. Sep 2016: Accepted tickets to Green Room for 2016 F1 Singapore Grand Prix

In September 2016, Iswaran received for himself 10 Green Room tickets to the 2016 Formula 1 race in Singapore from Ong. These were worth S$42,465 in total.

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6. Sep 2017: Accepted tickets to Green Room for 2017 F1 Singapore Grand Prix

One year later, he allegedly did the same, obtaining another 10 tickets worth S$42,265 from Ong.

7. Sep 2017: Accepted Boardwalk tickets for 2017 F1 Singapore Grand Prix

He also allegedly received five Boardwalk tickets for the same event worth about S$40,000 from Ong.

8. Dec 2017: Accepted tickets to Book of Mormon

In December 2017, Iswaran received four tickets to the show Book of Mormon worth about £540 (S$975) for “no consideration” from Ong through Como.

9. Dec 2017: Accepted tickets to Chelsea vs Southampton football match

In December 2017, he obtained for himself four tickets to the match for Chelsea vs Southampton (Stamford Bridge) worth about £700 (S$1,263) for “no consideration” from Ong through Como.

10. Dec 2017: Accepted tickets to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Part 1 and 2

In December 2017, Iswaran received four tickets to the two-part shows for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child worth about £1,000 (S$1,805) for “no consideration” from billionaire Ong Beng Seng through Como.

11. Dec 2017: Accepted tickets to Arsenal vs Liverpool football match

In December 2017, he got four tickets to the match for Arsenal vs Liverpool (Emirates) worth about £1,100 (S$1,986) for “no consideration” from Ong through Como.

12. Dec 2017: Accepted tickets to Kinky Boots

In December 2017, Iswaran received four tickets to the show Kinky Boots worth about £300 (S$541) for “no consideration” from Ong through Como.

13. Sep 2018: Accepted Twenty3 tickets to 2018 F1 Singapore Grand Prix

In September 2018, Iswaran obtained for himself six Twenty3 tickets to the 2018 Formula 1 race held in Singapore from Ong. These were worth S$13,193 in total.

14. Sep 2018: Accepted general admission tickets to 2018 F1 Singapore Grand Prix

In September 2018, Iswaran got for himself 13 general admission tickets to the 2018 F1 race in Singapore from Ong. These were worth S$16,744.

15. Dec 2018: Accepted tickets to The Play That Goes Wrong

In December 2018, Iswaran received four tickets to the show The Play That Goes Wrong worth about £380 (S$659) for “no consideration” from Ong through Como.

16. Dec 2018: Accepted tickets to School of Rock

In December 2018, Iswaran received four tickets to the School of Rock worth about £560 (S$971) for “no consideration” from Ong through Como.

17. Dec 2018: Accepted tickets to Chelsea vs Manchester City football match

That same month, he also got four tickets to the football match for Chelsea vs Manchester City (Emirates) worth about £1,100 (S$1,986) for “no consideration” from Ong through Como.

18. June 2019: Accepted tickets to Hamilton

In June 2019, Iswaran received four tickets to the show Hamilton worth about £400 (S$690) for “no consideration” from Ong through Como.

19. June 2019: Accepted tickets to Waitress

In June 2019, Iswaran received four tickets to the show Waitress worth about £524 (S$905) for “no consideration” from Ong through Como.

20. June 2019: Accepted tickets to the show Betrayal

In June 2019, he received four tickets to the show Betrayal worth about £1,080 (S$1,865) for “no consideration” from Ong through Como.

21. Sep 2019: Accepted Green Room tickets to 2019 F1 Singapore Grand Prix

In September 2019, Iswaran allegedly obtained for himself six Green Room tickets to the 2019 F1 race in Singapore from Ong. These were worth S$26,643.

22. Sep 2019: Accepted general admission tickets to 2019 F1 Singapore Grand Prix

He also in the same month accepted 16 general admission tickets to the same event from Ong worth S$20,608.

23. Dec 2021: Accepted tickets to Back to the Future

In December 2021, he received two tickets to the show Back to the Future worth about £449 (S$814) for “no consideration” from Ong through Como.

24. Dec 2021: Accepted tickets to & Juliet

In December 2021, he received two tickets to the show & Juliet worth about £250 (S$453.50) for “no consideration” from Ong through his company Como Holdings (UK) Limited, whom he allegedly knew to have a connection with his role as chairman of the F1 Steering Committee.

25. Sep 2022: Corruptly obtained total of 50 tickets to 2022 F1 Singapore Grand Prix

In September 2022, Iswaran obtained from Ong a total of:

  • 10 Green Room tickets worth S$48,150,

  • 8 Twenty3 tickets worth S$56,068, and

  • 32 general admission tickets worth S$41,216

to the Grand Prix event held in Singapore that year. These were worth a total of S$145,434. These are alleged to have been given to Iswaran as inducement for acts relating to advancing Ong’s business interests in matters relating to a contract between Singapore GP Pte Ltd and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

26. Dec 2022: Corruptly obtained flights to and from Doha, and a night’s stay in the Four Seasons Doha

In December 2022, Iswaran flew in Ong’s private jet to Doha from Singapore. This flight was valued at US$7,700, or S$10,410.40. He then stayed, through Singapore GP Pte Ltd, a night at the Four Seasons Doha, valued at S$4,737.63, and then returned to Singapore, through Singapore GP Pte Ltd, on a business class flight valued at S$5,700.

This is alleged to be as inducement in relation to advancing Ong’s interests in matters relating to a contract between Singapore GP and STB, as well as a proposed contract with STB to establish the ABBA Voyage virtual concert in Singapore.

27. May 25, 2023: Paid for return flight in an act to obstruct the course of justice

On May 25, 2023, Iswaran repaid to Singapore GP the S$5,700 for his business class flight. This money was originally at the expense of Ong through Singapore GP. He allegedly made this payment to obstruct the course of justice, knowing it would do so.

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