Singapore’s former transport minister, Subramanian Iswaran, has been convicted of receiving gifts while in office after pleading guilty in a local court. The 62-year-old was initially charged with corruption, but prosecutors amended the charges as his trial was set to begin on Tuesday. Iswaran now faces potential fines or up to two years in jail for each charge of receiving gratifications, significantly less severe than a corruption conviction, which could have resulted in a fine of up to $100,000 or seven years in prison.
Iswaran’s case marks a rare instance of a public official facing corruption-related charges in Singapore, a financial hub known for its strict anti-corruption measures. His conviction has drawn significant public attention, as he is the first political office-holder to be tried in court in Singapore in the past 50 years. He is best known for his role in bringing the Formula 1 Grand Prix to the country, with the latest edition having concluded just days before his court appearance.
The charges revealed that Iswaran received over S$403,000 ($311,882) worth of gifts, including flights, hotel stays, and Grand Prix tickets. After initially pleading not guilty and resigning from his ministerial role, he said he would focus on clearing his name.
Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, who owns the rights to the Singapore Grand Prix, was named in the allegations as the party offering the alleged bribes, but has not been formally charged. He was expected to testify as a prosecution witness.
In March, Iswaran faced eight additional charges related to gifts from construction company boss Lum Kok Seng, whose firm is involved in government infrastructure projects. Like Ong, Lum has not been charged.
Iswaran’s political career spanned multiple portfolios, including home affairs and communications, but he gained prominence during his time in the trade and industry ministry, where he played a key role in developing Singapore’s tourism sector. This era saw significant government investment in casinos, hotels, and attractions, including the F1 Grand Prix.
The case adds to a series of political scandals affecting the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), known for its stringent stance against corruption. Recent years have seen probes into the properties of other ministers, although they were eventually cleared of wrongdoing.
Singapore’s lawmakers are among the highest-paid in the world, with some ministers earning more than S$1 million ($758,000). Leaders justify the handsome salaries by saying it combats corruption.
The last major corruption case involving a politician occurred in 1986, when national development minister Teh Cheang Wan was investigated for accepting bribes. He took his own life before he was charged.
Before that, former minister of state for environment Wee Toon Boon was sentenced to 18 months jail in 1975 for a case involving more than $800,000, illustrating the rarity of such legal actions in the country. Iswaran’s case may reignite discussions on transparency and ethics within Singapore’s political landscape.
Melissa Enoch
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