SINGAPORE: A Malaysian hotel tycoon who helped bring Formula One to Singapore pleaded guilty Monday to abetting the obstruction of justice, in a rare corruption case in the city-state that saw a former transport minister jailed last year. Singapore-based billionaire Ong Beng Seng, 79, was charged in October last year with helping former transport minister S. Iswaran cover up evidence in a graft investigation.

The 79-year-old businessman pleaded guilty on Monday to one charge of abetting obstruction of justice.

Ong had given expensive gifts to a former minister, including F1 tickets and a private jet ride.