Ong Beng Seng, a major stakeholder in Mulberry, faces charges in Singapore related to gifts given to a former minister.
- The charges involve abetment and obstruction of justice concerning Ong’s relationship with ex-minister Subramaniam Iswaran.
- Iswaran, who has been sentenced to a year in prison, accepted gifts valued over £228,930 from Ong.
- Ong is concurrently dealing with a takeover attempt for Mulberry by Frasers Group, which he has rejected.
- The situation is under legal advisement, with no further details available at this point.
Ong Beng Seng, who holds a controlling interest in luxury brand Mulberry, has been charged in Singapore with offences related to providing gifts to a former government official. The case centres on allegations of abetment and obstruction of justice involving the former transport minister Subramaniam Iswaran.
Subramaniam Iswaran was found guilty of obtaining valuable gifts from Ong, including football match tickets, Formula 1 Grand Prix passes, tickets to London musicals, and a private jet ride to Doha, totalling over £228,930. The court sentenced Iswaran to one year in prison.
Prosecutors highlighted during the trial that these gifts were significant in value and were received while Iswaran was serving as a public servant. Ong, on his part, has not entered a plea and is currently seeking legal advice on the matter.
In a parallel development, Mulberry has been approached by Frasers Group with an £83 million takeover bid. Ong, representing his family’s Challice Group, owns 56% of Mulberry and has rejected the 130p-per-share offer from Frasers Group.
Despite the ongoing legal issues and business negotiations, Ong’s charges remain unresolved. His spokesperson has advised that further details are unavailable as legal consultations proceed.
The legal proceedings concerning Ong Beng Seng’s charges are ongoing, with the outcome yet to be determined.
