While the prosecution said they would have asked for an eight-week jail term for Ong, they will be exercising judicial mercy and are seeking a maximum fine instead, given Ong’s multiple medical conditions. Judicial mercy refers to circumstances where Singapore’s courts have to mete out a sentence that is more lenient than what the offence would otherwise warrant.
Shares in Hotel Properties Limited fell to an intra-day low of $5.39, seven cents lower than the Aug 1 close of $5.46, just as Ong Beng Seng, co-founder and former managing director, was about to plead guilty. Ong’s hearing was scheduled for 9.30am today (Aug 4).
In court, Ong admitted to the charge of abetting the obstruction of justice in a case linked to former transport minister, S. Iswaran.
