FORMER transport minister S Iswaran was on Jan 18 slapped with 27 charges involving items worth more than S$384,000.
Of these, 26 were of corruption and obtaining items from someone he had business dealings with as a public servant.
In addition, he was also charged with obstructing the course of justice.
Iswaran – whose storied political career spanned decades – is accused of obtaining “valuable items” from tycoon Ong Beng Seng – such as tickets to Formula 1 (F1) races and events, musicals, and a flight on Ong’s private jet – between 2015 and 2022.
The two prominent personalities were instrumental in bringing F1 to Singapore, with the world’s first night race taking place here in September 2008.
Source: Compiled by BT
BTVisual: Charmaine Martin
THE QUEST BEGINS…
After decades of back and forth – including a failed 1991 deal by Ong – then F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone in 2006 said he would consider adding Singapore to the 2008 season.
Ong, who is managing director of Hotel Properties Ltd (HPL), and Ecclestone were already long-time friends.
In April 2006, then minister for trade and industry Lim Hng Kiang said the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) was “actively looking” at a proposal to bring an F1 race here.
Ong and SUTL Group managing director Arthur Tay were named as possible candidates to organise the race.
Mar 2006 - Jan 2007
Speaking as minister of state for trade and industry, Iswaran said Singapore was taking a “serious look” at hosting. To concerns that a Singapore race would compete with the Malaysian Grand Prix, he said it would not necessarily be at the expense of existing races.
“Each race is unique in terms of its character and circuit design,” he said at the time. “Sepang has a dedicated circuit, while we are looking at a street circuit in Singapore.” Malaysia held the Sepang event from 1999 to 2017.
Mar 5, 2007
Singapore GP was registered with an issued capital of S$20 million. Its shareholders were Ong’s car dealership Komoco and one of his holding companies, Reef Enterprises.
The company became the vehicle that brought the race into Singapore. Ong, however, left himself out of the new company’s top roles. Its officers included then Komoco boss Teo Hock Seng, Ong’s secondary school mate Colin Syn, who was president of HPL’s Hard Rock Cafe, and Michael Roche, then a director at Lushington, Ong’s concert promotions business.
May 3, 2007
From left: Ong Beng Seng, S Iswaran, Lim Hng Kiang and then STB chief Neo Chian at the groundbreaking event for the F1 Pit Building. PHOTO: BT FILE
On Sep 28, 2007, The International Automobile Federation – F1’s governing body – approved in-principle the 5.067 km Marina Bay circuit.
At a press conference announcing this, Iswaran said: “I’d say we can take it as more or less that this is the circuit for 2008.”
Over 80 per cent of the 96,000 three-day passes sold out by May 2008.
Singapore will host a Formula One race for the 2008 calendar. The deal was announced by hotelier Ong Beng Seng and Minister of state for Trade and Industry, S. Iswaran
SPHID: 9383494
Sep 2007 - May 2008
After a flurry of three-way talks between Ong’s camp, Ecclestone and the Singapore government, a five-year deal was signed. Profit distribution, safety, logistics, routes and possibility of a night race were among the issues discussed.
May 11, 2007
FLAG OFF
Two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso and his Renault team won the first Singapore Grand Prix in front of 100,000 spectators, though the result was later tarnished by controversy.
Renault was found to have ordered another driver, Nelson Piquet Jr, to crash at a time that would benefit Alonso.
The Singtel-sponsored event got rave reviews. Photos from the race were the “best pictures ever seen in F1… like in a movie”, said F1 official Norbert Haug.
Sep 26, 2008
Renault driver Fernando Alonso of Spain kisses his trophy after winning the first F1 night race. PHOTO: ZAINAL YAHYA, BH
S Iswaran and Singtel group CEO Chua Sock Koong at the official ceremony of the SingTel Formula 1 Race sponsorship deal. PHOTO: BT FILE
The first night practice session of Formula One SingTel Singapore Grand Prix 2008 was held in a street circuit in the Marina Bay and City Hall areas. PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER
According to charge sheets, Iswaran, who was made minister for trade and industry in October 2015, allegedly obtained from Ong tickets to two English Premier League (EPL) football matches, as well as the shows Thriller and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time the month after his promotion.
He is also accused of receiving from Ong 10 tickets worth S$42,265 to the 2016 Singapore F1 race.
Nov 2015 - Sep 2016
Ariana Grande performing before 50,000 at the 2017 Singapore Grand Prix. PHOTO: KEVIN LIM, ST
Former Manchester United footballer Rio Ferdinand with Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Iswaran before the night race in 2016. PHOTO: KEVIN LIM, ST
On Jul 12, 2023, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said Iswaran was assisting with an investigation. He and Ong were arrested on Jul 11 and released on bail.
On Jan 18, 2024, Iswaran resigned as Transport Minister and MP after being handed 27 charges for corruption.
He maintains his innocence and said he will fight the charges.
MTI has declared that preparations for the 2024 edition of the race – scheduled for Sep 20 to 24 – are on track.
It added that there is nothing to suggest that either the F1 Singapore Grand Prix or other contracts were structured to the disadvantage of the government.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers said it will “take a decision in respect of the investigations” into Ong after the case against Iswaran has been completed.
Jul 2023 - Jan 2024
From left: Lushington Entertainments director Michael Roche, Hard Rock Cafe president Colin Syn and Komoco Motors managing director Teo Hock Seng in May 2007. PHOTO: BT FILE
Ong Beng Seng and S Iswaran announcing the completion of the deal. PHOTO: BT FILE
SUCCESS! THE RACE IS ON
KACHING!
In 2012, Ecclestone renewed the race contract for another five years to 2017.
Announcing the renewal, Iswaran – who had been promoted to second minister for trade and industry the year before – said: “Our view is that F1 has been good for Singapore”. He added that the race had met the government’s objectives of transforming the tourism sector, generating economic value and boosting the country’s image as a vibrant and distinctive global city.
The cost of organising each race was estimated at about S$150 million, with the government funding 60 per cent.
In turn, F1 generated around S$150 million in incremental tourism receipts – or tourist dollars Singapore would not otherwise have received – per race, well above the original projection of S$100 million for each race, he said.
In 2014, Singapore Airlines took over as title sponsor.
2012 - 2014
SPEED BUMPS
The F1 Singapore contract was extended in 2017 to 2021. "Formula One and Singapore have been good for each other," Iswaran reiterated.
He said Singapore had hosted over 450,000 international visitors in 2017, contributing to S$1.4 billion in incremental tourism receipts.
In September and December 2017, Iswaran allegedly received 15 tickets to the race from Ong, as well as tickets to two more EPL matches.
The charge sheets also listed tickets to Book of Mormon and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Part 1 and Part 2, Hamilton, Waitress and Betrayal, as well as more F1 tickets obtained by Iswaran from Ong subsequently.
2017 - 2019
COVID STOP & GO
The 2020 and 2021 editions of the race were cancelled during the pandemic.
Iswaran allegedly received tickets to two shows in December 2021. The race returned in 2022 – drawing its largest-ever crowd of 302,000. That year, Iswaran allegedly obtained from Ong 50 tickets to the race, worth S$145,434.
Two months later, he allegedly flew from Singapore to Doha on Ong’s private jet. He is also accused of obtaining a night’s stay in Four Seasons Doha and a business class flight from Doha to Singapore.
Over the years, the scale of the F1 race has expanded in terms of spectator numbers and star power, featuring performances from top international acts such as Ariana Grande, DJ Marshmello and rapper Post Malone.
The 2023 edition was hailed as “the best race of 2023” and drew a near sell-out crowd of 264,108 over the three days.
Meanwhile, Ecclestone had landed himself in court. He was charged in July 2022 for failing to declare millions of dollars held in a Singapore bank account to British authorities.
2020 - 2023
TROUBLE, BUT THE SHOW WILL GO ON
Former Transport Minister S Iswaran has been slapped with 35 charges, over allegedly receiving more than S$400,000 in tickets to shows, football matches, flights, whisky, golf clubs and Brompton bike between November 2015 and December 2022.
Mar 2024
Former Transport Minister S Iswaran has been slapped with 35 charges, over allegedly receiving more than S$400,000 in tickets to shows, football matches, flights, whisky, golf clubs and Brompton bike between November 2015 and December 2022.
Mar 2024