A former Singaporean minister was found guilty on Tuesday of obstructing justice and accepting illegal gifts, according to the public prosecutor. This marks the city-state's first political corruption trial in nearly half a century. S. Iswaran, the ex-transport minister known for his role in bringing Formula One to Singapore, faced 35 charges earlier this year, mostly related to graft. However, prosecutors pursued only five lesser charges, including those involving a billionaire property tycoon.
"S. Iswaran pleaded guilty to and was convicted...of four charges for obtaining gifts from two local businessmen. He also pleaded guilty to and was convicted of one charge for obstruction of justice," the attorney general's office stated in a release. Prosecutors are requesting a combined prison sentence of six to seven months, while the defense is aiming for no more than eight weeks, according to The Straits Times. The sentencing date has not been officially announced, but local media reports suggest it is set for October 3.
After the court session, the 62-year-old Iswaran declined to comment on the trial, stating, "I just want to thank all of you for coming, and let's see how it goes." Observers consider his trial one of the most politically significant in Singapore's history. It also poses a risk to the reputation of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) ahead of general elections expected by November next year.
Iswaran resigned in January after being formally notified of the charges, which included accepting gifts worth over $300,000. In his resignation letter, he vowed to clear his name in court. Iswaran has repaid around $295,000 to the government, and several gifts, including a Brompton bicycle, were seized. The charges include obstruction of justice related to an attempt to hinder Singaporean authorities from investigating a business class flight funded by Malaysian hotel tycoon Ong Beng Seng.
The other four charges involve Iswaran's receipt of gifts from Ong, the managing director of Hotel Properties Limited, and a top director at a construction company, including bottles of whiskey and golf clubs. Neither businessman has faced punishment. The charge of obstructing justice carries a maximum sentence of seven years and a fine, while accepting gifts of value has a maximum sentence of two years and a fine.
Most of the charges against Iswaran are under a rarely used criminal law that states it is an offence for public servants to accept objects of value from figures they officially work with. Singapore's former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong stated at the time of Iswaran's resignation that he had pledged to return money received as part of his salary and allowances since his arrest. Cabinet ministers are paid salaries comparable to the top earners in the private sector to deter corruption.
Lee has previously acknowledged that his long-ruling PAP had "taken a hit" after a series of political scandals. Last year, two PAP legislators resigned due to an affair. Prior to that, two prominent cabinet members were investigated for allegedly receiving favors in their rental of colonial-era bungalows, but were later cleared. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who succeeded Lee, has emphasized that the PAP's anti-corruption stance is "non-negotiable." The government announced it would review the terms of its Formula One Grand Prix deal following Iswaran's resignation. This year's race in Singapore concluded on Sunday.
Singapore's last senior politician convicted for graft was in 1975, when Wee Toon Boon, then minister of state for environment, was found guilty of accepting bribes worth more than $600,000, according to local media.
