Former Singapore minister jailed for corruption

Singapores former Minister for Transport and Minister-in-charge for Trade Relations S Iswaran leaves the Supreme Court in Singapore on October 3 2024 AFP-Yonhap — Singapore's former Minister for Transport and Minister-in-charge for Trade Relations S. Iswaran leaves the Supreme Court in Singapore on Oct. 3, 2024. AFP-Yonhap

SEOUL, October 4 (AJP) - S. Iswaran, Singapore's ex-transport minister, was sentenced to one year in prison Thursday for accepting gifts worth about 74,000 Singapore dollars (approximately US$55,000) during his tenure. This marks the first imprisonment of a minister-level official for corruption in Singapore since 1975, sending shockwaves through the nation known for its low corruption rates.

Iswaran pleaded guilty to four charges of receiving inappropriate gifts from business-related individuals and one charge of obstructing justice. The gifts included Formula One tickets, Premier League soccer tickets, London musical tickets, wine, whiskey, and a luxury bicycle. Judge Vincent Hoong stated that the prosecution's recommended sentence of six to seven months was "manifestly inadequate" given the seriousness of the crimes and their impact on public trust.

The case has dealt a blow to Singapore's reputation for clean governance. The country ranked fifth out of 180 countries in Transparency International's 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index. Singapore pays its ministers high salaries, often exceeding 1 million Singapore dollars annually, as a measure to prevent corruption.

Prosecutors may consider pursuing charges for the remaining 30 allegations against Iswaran, who initially faced 35 charges totaling over 400,000 Singapore dollars in gifts. The former minister resigned in January after serving in various cabinet positions for 13 years, including roles in the Communications and Information Ministry and the Trade and Industry Ministry.

AJP