Singapore's disgraced former minister jailed for taking gifts
Singapore's former transport minister S Iswaran will be jailed for 12 months after he pled guilty to accepting gifts while in public office.
In short:
Iswaran, a former transport minister in Singapore, will be the first ex-cabinet minister to be jailed in a corruption case in the country.
Iswaran received tickets for English Premier League, musicals, and Formula 1, which is against the law for public servants in Singapore.
What's next?
Iswaran will remain on bail before commencing his 12 month jail term on Monday.
A Singapore court has sentenced a former minister to 12 months in prison for obstructing justice and receiving more than $300,000 worth of gifts.
It is the first jailing of an ex-cabinet member.
The case has shocked Singapore, which prides itself on having a well-paid and efficient bureaucracy as well as strong and squeaky clean governance.
It was among the world's top five least corrupt countries last year, according to Transparency International's corruption perception index.
Iswaran, who was a cabinet member for 13 years and has held the trade, communications and transport portfolios, pleaded guilty last week to four counts of improperly receiving gifts and one of obstructing justice.
The sentence handed down on Thursday was more severe than the six to seven months sought by the prosecution, which presiding judge Vincent Hoong said was "manifestly inadequate" given the gravity of Iswaran's offences and their impact on public trust.
Iswaran is the first ex-cabinet minister in Singapore to be jailed for corruption related offences.
"Trust and confidence in public institutions are the bedrock of effective governance and these can be undermined if a public servant is seen to have fallen below standards of integrity and accountability," he said in sentencing Iswaran.
The last corruption case involving a Singaporean minister was in 1986, when its national development minister was investigated for alleged bribery but died before any charges were filed in court.
The investigation caused a stir in the Asian financial hub and centred on allegations Iswaran, while transport minister, accepted expensive gifts from businessmen that included tickets to English Premier League soccer matches, the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, London musicals and a ride on a private jet.
The value of those totalled more than S$400,000 ($308,880.31), according to the prosecution.
Iswaran, 62, faced a huge media scrum as he arrived in court and declined to answer questions.
He showed no emotion during the court session.
The judge allowed him to remain on bail for the next few days and begin his jail term on Monday.
Iswaran had initially said he was innocent and would fight to clear his name but pleaded guilty last week to the five charges put before the court, two of which were initially corruption-related but were amended to charges of receiving gifts while a public servant.
Iswaran is credited with helping bring Formula 1 to Singapore more than a decade and a half ago.
The attorney-general's chambers last week said they made amendments because of litigation risks involved in proving the corruption charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
Iswaran was arrested in July last year and was accused of taking kickbacks from businessmen including property tycoon Ong Beng Seng.
At the time, Iswaran was an adviser to the Singapore Grand Prix's steering committee, while Mr Ong owned the rights to the race.
Mr Ong has not been charged with any offence and has issued no public comment on the allegations.
The attorney-general's chambers last week said it would decide whether to take action against Mr Ong soon.
Judge Hoong in his ruling said there was a higher level of culpability when a public servant holds high office that wield greater influence over business transactions.
Reuters
By：https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-03/singapore-former-transport-minister-jailed/104428798(责任编辑：admin)
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