Former Singaporean Transport Minister S. Iswaran was sentenced to a year in prison for accepting illegal gifts, following his guilty plea to obstruction of justice and corruption charges.
His case marks the first time in nearly 50 years that a minister in Singapore has been imprisoned.
Justice Vincent Hoong, in delivering his ruling, emphasized the need for high-ranking officials to avoid the appearance of being influenced by financial incentives.
“I am of the view it is appropriate to impose a sentence in excess of both parties’ positions,” Hoong stated.
The defence requested a prison sentence of no more than eight weeks, while the prosecution argued for six to seven months. Despite 35 initial charges, prosecutors proceeded with five, reducing two of the corruption charges to accepting illegal gifts. No explanation was provided for the decision to drop the remaining charges, The Associated Press reports.
Iswaran, 62, received over 74,000 Singapore dollars ($57,000) in gifts from Ong Beng Seng, a Malaysian tycoon, and businessperson Lum Kok Seng.
The gifts included tickets to Singapore’s Formula 1 race, wine, whisky, and a luxury Brompton bike. Ong holds the rights to the race, while Iswaran chaired the event’s steering committee.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers will determine whether Ong and Lum will face charges after Iswaran’s case concludes.
Singapore’s ministers are known to be among the highest-paid in the world. Iswaran’s conviction is seen as an embarrassment for the ruling People’s Action Party, which prides itself on its clean image.
Iswaran’s case is the first major corruption scandal since Wee Toon Boon was convicted in 1975 for accepting gifts in exchange for business favors.
Another minister was investigated for corruption in 1986 but passed away before charges were filed.
Iswaran resigned from his position just before the charges were brought against him. His trial occurred shortly after Singapore’s new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong assumed office following Lee Hsien Loong’s 20-year tenure.
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I wonder how many of our ministers and politicians will walk our streets free if we were living in Singapore. We shall have more prisons than homes.