P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The rights owner of the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix has been charged in relation to a corruption case engulfing the country’s former transport minister. Ong Beng Beng, a Malaysian businessman, has been accused of handing S. Iswaran gifts worth $300,000, including a trip on a private jet, trips to Premier League football matches as […]
Malaysian businessman Ong Beng Beng has been accused of gifting S. Iswaran items totaling $300,000, which included a private jet trip, tickets to Premier League football matches, and Grand Prix tickets. Iswaran, who resigned in January, was sentenced to a year in jail for accepting gifts while in office, placing the spotlight on Ong. Ong, who was initially arrested last July, faces charges under Section 165 for providing gifts to Iswaran and obstructing justice. Despite the scandal, Singapore’s position as a Formula 1 race host appears secure until 2028, with a deal signed two years ago. The Singapore Grand Prix made history in 2008 as the first night race in F1, known for its controversial incidents like Nelson Piquet Jr’s deliberate crash that impacted the championship outcome. The race was held until 2019 before a hiatus due to COVID-19, returning in 2022, with this year’s winner being Lando Norris at the Marina Bay Circuit.
