Singapore ex-minister gets prison for taking gifts

Proposed Iswaran, a senior government minister in Singapore’s state, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison in a high-profile test that has gripped the prosperous nation.

Iswaran, 62, pleaded guilty to accepting gifts worth more than S$ 403, 000 ($ 311, 882, £234, 586 ) while in public office, as well as obstructing the course of justice.

The gifts included tickets to the Formula 1 Grand Prix, a Brompton T-line bicycle, alcohol and a ride on a private jet.

Justice Vincent Hoong, who oversaw the situation in Singapore’s High Court, emphasised that the original transpor leader’s acts were an abuse of power and jeopardised person’s confidence in public corporations.

He added that Iswaran appeared to believe he may be found innocent.

” In his letter to the prime minister, he stated he rejected ( the charges ) and expressed his strong belief he would be acquitted”, said Justice Hoong.

” I find it difficult for me to accept that these are signs of his regret.”

When Iswaran did report to prison, it was not immediately known, but his attorneys requested that the judge move things along.

He will serve his sentence at Changi, the same prison that holds Singapore’s death row captives, where the cells do n’t have supporters and most individuals sleep on straw sheets instead of rooms.

He is the first social number to face judge in nearly fifty years in Singapore.

The country takes pride in its unwavering cleanliness and lack of fraud. But that picture, and the popularity of the governing Women’s Action Party, have taken a beat as a result of Iswaran’s situation.

The city state’s lawmakers are among the highest-paid in the world, with some ministers earning more than S$ 1 million ($ 758, 000 ). Officials defend the high salaries by claiming that it combats problem.

Ministers must disclose any gifts they receive from people with whom they have business dealings with as well as the payment of the gift’s business value to the authorities.

” It’s certainly a significant amount over his years of service, but on his income, he could have very properly afforded no to”, said Eugene Tan, an associate professor of law at Singapore Management University.

” I believe the government was anticipating the jury to show zero tolerance for this kind of conduct,” he said.

Iswaran’s defence team had asked for eight days, if the prosecutor deemed prison required. His attorney argued that the allegations did not constitute an abuse of power and did not adversely affect the state.

In addition, the prosecution requested an eight to nine-month sentence, arguing that Iswaran was “more than a quiet accept of gifts.”

” If open workers could accept significant products in such a situation, over the long term, public confidence in the fairness and integrity of state would be greatly undermined”, said Deputy Attorney-General Tai Wei Shyong.

” Tolerance for such acts would be signaled by never punishing them,” he said.

Justice Hoong made the observation on Thursday that great company buyers have a significant impact on the public attention.

For individuals” set the tone for open servants” by acting in accordance with higher standards of integrity and must be expected to abstain from any notions that they are susceptible to influence by financial gain, he said.

While in state, Iswaran held many assets in the prime minister’s office: in household matters, communications and, most recently, the transport government.

Due to last year, the most recent instance of a politician facing a serious bribery investigation was Teh Cheang Wan, the country’s development minister, who was the subject of a probe into accepting bribes in 1986. Before being charged, he committed suicide.

Prior to that, Wee Toon Boon, a former culture chancellor, received a sentence in 1975 that included a sentence of 18 months in prison.

Iswaran’s accusations first surfaced in July of last year. Ong Beng Seng, a billionaire investor who helped bring the Formula 1 Grand Prix to Singapore, is the subject of nearly all of the claims against him. Ong Beng Seng is also under inspection.

Justice Hoong said on Thursday that when Iswaran learned that authorities were looking into Mr. Ong’s partners, he requested that Mr. Ong bill him for his journey to Doha.

He deliberated and planned his actions, and the judge continued that the judge was trying to avoid studies into the products by asking to be billed and paying for the seat.

Iswaran was initially charged with 35 matters, including two counts of problem, one fee of obstructing justice and 32 works of “obtaining, as a public servant, important stuff”. However, after the corruption charges were changed, Iswaran entered a plea of guilty to lesser crimes at a trial in late September.

Lawyers did not confirm whether a plea deal had been reached.

” The system still functions, and that public commitment is still being made.” However, this particular instance is undoubtedly not going to do the party any favors,” Mr. Tan said.

The ruling People’s Action Party ( PAP ), which has long criticized corruption and immoral behavior, is one of a string of political scandals that has rocked the party.

A separate corruption investigation into the real estate dealings of two other ministers ended up with them in 2023, while the speaker of Parliament resigned due to an extramarital affair with a different lawmaker.

The housing scandal sparked concerns about the privileged positions ministers hold in Singapore when living costs are rising.

By November 2025, Singapore must hold a general election. In the most recent elections, the PAP’s share of the popular vote decreased, and an increasingly powerful opposition party is posing a threat to its decades-long one-party rule.

The Workers’ Party won a total of 10 seats in parliament in the last election, but has also been rocked by scandal. Its leader, Pritam Singh, has been charged with lying under oath to a parliamentary committee. He has rejected the accusations.