A former Transport Minister of Singapore, S. Iswaran, has been accused of corruption by the anti-corruption agency, making this one of the most high-profile corruption cases in the country in recent history.
According to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), Iswaran, who was arrested in July of the previous year, is alleged to have received kickbacks worth S$384,340.98 from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, partly to promote Ong’s business interests.
The charges against Iswaran include acceptance of favors such as tickets to football matches, musicals, flights on Ong’s private plane, and tickets to the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix. Iswaran was an advisor to the Grand Prix’s steering committee, while Ong owns the rights to the race.
The CPIB stated that Iswaran faces a total of 27 charges, including corruption and obstructing the course of justice.
In his resignation letter, Iswaran stated that he denies the charges and will focus on clearing his name. If convicted of corruption, he could face a fine of up to S$100,000 or seven years in prison.
Ong’s office did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Ong was also arrested in July as part of the corruption investigation, but has not been charged.
The case has attracted significant attention in Singapore, a major financial center in Asia that prides itself on having a clean government with minimal corruption and political scandals.
Transparency International ranked Singapore as the fifth least corrupt country in its International Corruption Perceptions Index of 180 nations in 2022. This high ranking reflects the city-state’s reputation for honesty and integrity in government.
Iswaran, 61, began his tenure in the cabinet of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as a junior minister in 2006 before taking on the role of transport minister in May 2021. The last corruption case involving a minister was in 1986 when the national development minister was investigated for allegedly accepting bribes, although he passed away before facing charges.
The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has faced public scrutiny over the graft investigation and the resignations of two senior PAP lawmakers due to an “inappropriate relationship.” With a leadership transition approaching, Lee has pledged to hand over his position to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong by November.
At a PAP event in November, Lee emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards, stating, “The party must show Singaporeans and the world that after half a century in government, the PAP’s standards remain as high as ever.”
($1 = 1.3430 Singapore dollars)
(Reporting by Xinghui Kok; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor and Miral Fahmy)
