Former Transport Minister S. Iswaran was found guilty last week on one charge of obstructing justice and four others for accepting gifts from individuals with whom he had official dealings. He is the first minister in nearly 50 years to be charged and sentenced to prison in Singapore.
Judge Vincent Hoong stated in his ruling that there is an expectation that senior officials “must avoid any perception that they can be influenced by bribes.” He deemed it appropriate to impose a sentence that exceeded the expectations of both parties, announcing a 12-month prison sentence for the five charges. The defense had requested no more than eight weeks in prison, while the prosecution sought a sentence of six to seven months.
The court granted Iswaran’s request to postpone the start of his sentence until Monday, according to “Channel News Asia.” It remains unclear whether he will appeal the sentence.
Initially facing 35 charges, Iswaran’s trial was continued with only five of them, as prosecutors reduced two corruption charges to one for the illegal acceptance of gifts (bribery). Prosecutors stated they would seek consideration of the remaining 30 charges for sentencing.
Iswaran received gifts worth over $57,000 from Ong Beng Seng, a wealthy Malaysian real estate magnate based in Singapore, and businessman Lum Kok Seng. The gifts included tickets for the Singapore “Formula 1” race, wine, whisky, and a luxury “Brompton” bicycle. Ong purchased the rights to organize the “Formula 1” race in Singapore, and Iswaran served as chairman and later advisor of the Grand Prix organizing committee.
The Attorney-General’s Office indicated it would soon decide whether to charge entrepreneurs Ong and Lum after the conclusion of the case against Iswaran.
Singaporean ministers are among the highest-paid in the world. While the amount involved in Iswaran’s case appears relatively small, his indictment is damaging to the ruling People’s Action Party, which prides itself on a clean image. Singapore ranks among the five least corrupt countries in the world in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.
The last cabinet minister charged with corruption was Wee Toon Boon, who was found guilty in 1975 and imprisoned for accepting gifts in exchange for assistance to a businessman. Another cabinet minister was investigated for corruption in 1986 but died before charges were brought against him.
Iswaran resigned shortly before the bribery charges were filed against him. His trial comes just over four months after Singapore appointed new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong following Lee Hsien Loong’s resignation after 20 years in office.
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“KORÇA BOOM”