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
Follow us on:
German Consul General Boerner stressed media freedom’s importance, noting Nigeria’s 112th press freedom rank and…
The Federal Executive Council approved Nigeria’s 2025-2027 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, setting the federal budget at…
Benue State’s Commissioner for Finance has emphasised the need for farming to evolve from a…
Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi has called for overdue NNPC investigation and forensic audits in the…
Researchers have suggested Sudan’s war death toll may be significantly underreported, indicating a graver humanitarian…
A man detonated explosives near Brazil’s Supreme Court in a suspected suicide bombing, raising concerns…
View Comments
<<<<recruitement form="" is="" out="" we="" are="" replacing="" a="" new="" officers="" interested="" applicant="" should="" contact="" us="" for="" more="" information.;AUCTIONING VEHICLES AND
BAGS OF RICE FOR SALE AT CHEAPER PRICE SUCH AS
*MAMA AFRICA #23,500
*MAMA GOLD #23,500
*ROYAL STALLION #23,500
*SUPER EAGLE #19,500
*SUPER GOLD #23,500
*ROYAL UMBRELLA #19,500
*OLIVA RICE #18,500
CALL THE OFFICE NUMBER 08O ___-6739 __-9O9O
AUCTION AUCTION AUCTION
THE NIGERIA CUSTOM ARE AUCTIONING
VEHICLES AT CHEAPER RATE MODEL OF THIS
VEHICLE ARE LABEL BELOW WITH EACH PRICES
Range rover
N3,550,000
Land rover N2,200,000 Toyota Tundra
N2.000,000
Toyota Hilux
N2.300,000 Toyota highlander N1.900,000
Toyota
camry
muzzleN1.500,000 Toyota camryspiderN1.950
,000
Toyota
bigdaddy N750,000 fjcruiser N2.500,000,
TOyota corolla N950,000, Toyota
Yaris
N900,000 Toyota Dyna Truck–N1.3millionToyota matrix N800,000 Toyota
Tinylight N450,000
avalon N850,000 Toyota pinic N450,000
Toyota
sienna Mercedes-Benz C-300 #2.6M
Mercedes-Benz C-Class= ₦950,000
Mercedes-Benz E-Class= ₦1.1M
Mercedes-Benz GLK= ₦4.5m
Mercedes-Benz ML320= ₦850,000
Mercedes Benz ML330= ₦1.8M
Mercedes-Benz ML350= ₦950,000
N900,000 Nissan pathfinder N1.500,000
Nissan
murano
N2.500,000 Lexus RX330&350
N2.500,000-3700,000
kia sportage
N800,000 kiaRio N750,000 Acura ZDX
N3.300,000
Mazda
N800,000 Audi N700,000 HUmmerBus
N1.500,000
Haicebus
N950,000 premier N750,000 Volkswagen
passat
N600,00
Bensclassic series N2.500,000 Golf4 N400,000
Golf3 N350,000.
Bags of rice 23,500 and also trucks and
tippers
are
available,CALL OFFICE LINE 08O ___-6739 __-9O9O
RANGEROVER SPORT-
N2.4M
. LEXUS IS300 #2,500,000
LEXUS Ex300 #3,000,000
LEXUS Ex330 #3,500,000
LEXUS Ex350 #4,000,000
LEXUS RX300 #3,000,000
LEXUS Rx330 ₦3,500,00
Lexus Rx350 ₦4,500,000
LEXUS Rx460 ₦5,200,000
MANY MORE OTHER VEHICLES, All VEHICLES
ENGINE ARE IN
GOOD CONDITION CALL 08O ___-6739 __-9O9O OR WASAP FOR MORE DETAILS (THANKS FOR PATRONIZING
WITH US).VEHICLES ARE SLIGHTLY NEGOTIABLE〽WE COMMENCE DELIVERY WITHIN 36 STATE IN NIGERIA
THANKS FOR PATRONIZING US.〽.〽.〽〽〽