Former Singaporean transport minister S. Iswaran began his 12-month jail term on Monday after surrendering at the State Courts.
Iswaran faced 35 charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) and section 165 of the Penal Code in a corruption case involving two prominent businessmen. However, during last month’s trial, the prosecutor amended the corruption charges, focusing on Iswaran’s acceptance of gifts as a public servant under section 165 of the Penal Code. He pleaded guilty to four charges related to obtaining valuables from Ong Beng Seng and Lum Kok Seng, and one charge of obstructing justice.
Section 165 of the Penal Code and section 5 of the PCA largely overlap, both targeting gratification received in a public office. The maximum criminal sanction of the Penal Code is two years imprisonment, less severe than five years imprisonment under the PCA.
Iswaran admitted he has received valuables of S$403,300 (around US$309,329) over seven years. Those valuables received include tickets to musicals, Formula 1 events and football matches, a private jet flight to Qatar, a hotel stay in Four Seasons Doha, a business class flight from Qatar to Singapore, and a Brompton bicycle for his 60th birthday.
In a social media post on Monday, Iswaran acknowledged his wrongdoing, stating, “I accept full responsibility for my actions and apologise unreservedly to all Singaporeans.” He also said he would not appeal the sentence handed down by the court.
Last Thursday, the former minister received his sentence of 12 months, nearly double the sentence term sought by the prosecution. The judge cited several aggravating factors such as the duration of his offenses, the high office he occupied, and the harm to public interest and trust in public institutions.
One day after Iswaran received his sentence, Ong Beng Seng was charged with abetting a public servant in obtaining gifts and obstructing justice. Lum Kok Seng, on the other hand, will not be charged, according to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, after considering his role in each transaction.
