Tue Sep 24 03:33:35 UTC 2024: ## Former Singaporean Minister Pleads Guilty to Accepting Illegal Gifts
**KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia** – In a landmark case for Singapore, former Transport Minister S. Iswaran has pleaded guilty to charges of receiving illegal gifts, marking the first ministerial criminal trial in nearly half a century.
Iswaran, 62, admitted to accepting gifts worth over 74,000 Singapore dollars ($57,000) from two businessmen, Ong Beng Seng and Lum Kok Seng, with whom he had official business dealings. The gifts included tickets to the Formula 1 race, wine, whisky, and a luxury Brompton bike. Ong, the owner of the Singapore F1 race, had business dealings with Iswaran through his role as chair and later advisor to the Grand Prix’s steering committee.
While initially facing 35 charges, the prosecution dropped 30, ultimately pursuing only five charges against Iswaran, including one count of obstructing justice and four counts of accepting illegal gifts. The prosecution will seek a 6-7 month jail sentence, arguing that failing to punish such acts would send a message that corruption is tolerated.
Defense lawyers requested a lighter sentence of no more than eight weeks, arguing that Iswaran’s actions stemmed from personal friendship and not any intention to gain a personal advantage. They also maintained that the government’s integrity and impartiality were not compromised.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers has yet to decide whether to charge Ong and Lum, with their potential charges pending the outcome of Iswaran’s case.
The case has garnered significant attention as it marks a rare instance of a high-ranking official facing corruption charges in Singapore, a country known for its clean image and strict anti-corruption laws. The last Cabinet minister convicted of corruption was Wee Toon Boon in 1975.
Iswaran’s conviction could negatively impact the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) ahead of the next general elections in late 2025. The PAP, which prides itself on its clean image, faces the challenge of addressing public concerns about the incident and ensuring that similar incidents do not occur in the future.
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