Former Minister for Transport S. Iswaran has pleaded guilty after his corruption charges were replaced with charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code. Initially facing 35 charges, including two under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Iswaran now faces five charges: four under Section 165 and one for obstruction of justice. The charges relate to accepting valuable items without adequate payment from individuals he was involved with in an official capacity. Iswaran admitted to repaying S$5,700 to Singapore GP Pte Ltd for a business class ticket he received from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng. The remaining 30 charges will be considered during sentencing.
Background
The charges against Iswaran stem from his tenure as Minister for Transport, where he allegedly accepted various forms of gratification from Ong Beng Seng. These included expensive tickets to the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix and a business class flight from Doha to Singapore. The prosecution decided to proceed with five charges, reducing the initial 35, which included two corruption charges. Iswaran’s defence lawyer, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, indicated that his client would plead guilty following the amendment of the charges.
Previous charges of corruption
Initially, Iswaran faced serious corruption allegations. The first charge claimed he received S$145,434 from Ong Beng Seng to advance Ong’s business interests in a contract between Singapore GP and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). He was also accused of accepting 10 Green Room tickets worth S$48,150, eight tickets to F1 venue Twenty3 worth S$56,068, and 32 general admission tickets worth S$41,216 for the 2022 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix. The second charge alleged that Iswaran received further gratification from Ong in December 2022 to facilitate a contract with STB for the ABBA Voyage virtual concert in Singapore. This included an outbound flight on Ong’s private plane, a one-night stay in Four Seasons Doha, and a business class flight from Doha to Singapore, totalling approximately S$20,848.
Obstruction of justice
One of the charges Iswaran pleaded guilty to involves obstruction of justice. He admitted to repaying S$5,700 to Singapore GP Pte Ltd for a business class ticket he received from Ong Beng Seng. This repayment was made after the charges were brought against him, indicating an attempt to rectify the situation. The prosecution highlighted this as a significant factor in their decision to proceed with the obstruction of justice charge.
Defence strategy
Iswaran’s defence lawyer, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, stated that his client would take a specific course of action following the amendment of the charges. This course of action involved pleading guilty to the reduced charges. Singh confirmed that Iswaran was aware of the charges and had decided to plead guilty, which he did in court. This strategy appears to be aimed at mitigating the consequences of the charges by showing cooperation and remorse.
Future implications
The case against Iswaran, a senior politician, has significant implications for Singapore’s political landscape. It highlights the city-state’s strict stance on corruption and the legal consequences for public servants who breach trust. The outcome of Iswaran’s sentencing will be closely watched, as it may set a precedent for future cases involving public officials. Additionally, this case underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in public office, reinforcing the need for stringent measures to prevent corruption.
