Singapore Ex-Minister Set for High-Profile Corruption Trial

AFP/APP

Singapore: Singapore’s former transport minister, S. Iswaran, is set to appear in court on Tuesday for the start of the city-state’s first political corruption trial in over four decades, capturing national attention in a country often hailed as one of the least corrupt in the world.

Iswaran, who played a key role in bringing Formula 1 to Singapore, resigned in January after facing multiple corruption charges, including accepting gifts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The trial is considered one of the most politically significant in Singapore’s history and could impact the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) ahead of the general elections expected by the end of next year.

The 62-year-old, who resigned from the PAP upon being formally charged, has pleaded not guilty. Of the 35 charges against him, most relate to corruption, including one involving a government contract that carries a potential prison sentence of up to seven years. He also faces a charge of obstruction of justice.

Among the allegations, Iswaran is accused of accepting gifts valued at more than $300,000 from two businessmen.
These include tickets to major sporting events and stage shows provided by Malaysian hotel tycoon Ong Beng Seng, one of Singapore’s wealthiest individuals. Ong was arrested the same day as Iswaran in 2023 but has not faced any charges.

Additionally, Iswaran is accused of accepting bottles of whiskey and golf clubs from a director at a construction company, who has also not been charged.

The charges against Iswaran are based on a rarely used law that prohibits public servants from accepting valuable items from individuals they have official dealings with.

Iswaran’s lawyers argue that the businessmen were close friends, allowing him to accept the gifts in a personal capacity. The former minister maintains his innocence, as stated in his resignation letter.

At the time of his resignation, Singapore’s former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed that Iswaran had committed to returning the money he had received in salary and allowances since his arrest. Singapore’s cabinet ministers are paid high salaries, comparable to top private sector earners, to deter corruption.

Lee acknowledged that the PAP had “taken a hit” after recent political scandals, including the resignation of two PAP legislators over an affair and investigations into two senior cabinet members for alleged favoritism in renting colonial-era bungalows, though they were later cleared.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who succeeded Lee, has reaffirmed the PAP’s unwavering anti-corruption stance, stating that it is “non-negotiable.”

The last time a Singaporean political officeholder was tried for corruption was in 1975 when Wee Toon Boon was charged with accepting bribes worth more than $600,000, as reported by local media.