(Feb 28): Billionaire Ong Beng Seng plans to plead guilty to one charge related to a case involving a former Singapore minister who was jailed for obtaining gifts from the property tycoon.

Ong, 79, also consented to have a second charge taken into consideration for the purposes of sentencing at an April 2 court hearing, according to a statement Friday from Hotel Properties Ltd, where he’s a managing director.

Prosecutors charged Ong in October for abetting ex-transport minister S Iswaran over two flights and a night’s stay at the Four Seasons hotel in Doha, with a total value of S$20,848 (US$15,447 or RM68,978). Ong was also accused of abetting Iswaran in obstructing the course of justice.

A spokesman for Ong declined earlier to comment on his intention to plead guilty. The tycoon has a net worth of about US$1.1 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He’s out on an extended bail of S$800,000.

Hotel Properties said that Ong will stay on as managing director after determining that he “continues to be suitable to carry out his duties and responsibilities.”

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