Former Singapore Minister Accused of Graft Pleads Guilty to Obstruction of Justice

By Josh Xiao and Yihui Xie / Bloomberg
Updated: September 24, 2024 4:30 AM EDT | Originally published: September 24, 2024 1:05 AM EDT

Singapore’s former transport minister pleaded guilty bribery and obstruction of justice after the city-state’s prosecution amended the indictment against him, a surprising twist to the biggest political scandal in nearly four decades. 

S. Iswaran, 62, was convicted on Tuesday after the amended charges were read out to him. It was unexpected as the former politician had vowed to defend himself against a raft of charges including corruption.

The court will sentence Iswaran on Oct. 3 and he is out on bail. The prosecutors asked for a seven-month jail term while his defense lawyers sought no more than eight weeks.

The case comes at a politically sensitive time as Prime Minister Lawrence Wong prepares to lead the ruling People’s Action Party in a general election after he took over from Lee Hsien Loong in May. The case against Iswaran, who has left the PAP, is a test for a party whose reputation for clean governance has helped it win all elections since Singapore’s independence in 1965.

Read More: A Wave of Scandals Is Testing the Singaporean Government’s Ability to Take Criticism

“My lawyers have stated the position clearly,” Iswaran told reporters outside the courthouse. “Let’s see it how it goes.”

The last time a former minister was sentenced to jail in Singapore was in 1975. Then-Minister of State for Environment Wee Toon Boon was sentenced to 18 months in jail for accepting a two-story house and land.

“The Singapore government is well-known for its longstanding commitment to integrity and honest government,” Deputy Attorney General Tai Wei Shyong said during the hearing. “The accused’s acts have had a significant impact on this hard-earned reputation.”

 Iswaran was initially charged with 35 counts including graft. He was alleged to have obtained more than S$403,000 ($312,000) in luxury goods including tickets to musicals and soccer matches in the UK. 

His lawyer Davinder Singh said there was no suggestion that Iswaran’s loyalty to the government was compromised. Still, prosecuting Iswaran sent a “powerful signal” about the country’s zero-tolerance on graft, Singh added. 

F1 races

The probe against Iswaran came to light last year when Lee ordered him to go on leave, and he was later arrested together with property tycoon Ong Beng Seng. Iswaran was charged in January for allegedly taking favors from Ong, such as tickets to musicals on the West End. Ong hasn’t been charged and was recently seen at the sold-out Formula 1 night race over the weekend in Singapore.

Known for bringing F1 racing to Singapore, Iswaran is the first minister to get embroiled in a graft probe since 1986 when then-Minister for National Development Teh Cheang Wan was investigated for accepting bribes. Teh denied receiving the money and died before he could be formally charged. 

For Iswaran, most of the prosecution’s charges deal with his interactions with Ong, who owns the rights to the Singapore Grand Prix and is chairman of race promoter Singapore GP Pte Ltd. The allegations range from Iswaran obtaining tickets for UK soccer matches and taking a flight on Ong’s private jet to obtaining tickets to the F1 race in Singapore.

Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has said there was nothing to suggest that the F1 contracts were disadvantageous to the government and said it would review the terms. A ministry spokesman said the review is ongoing.

Another round of charges in March had accused Iswaran of obtaining nearly S$19,000 of luxury items, including whisky bottles, a Brompton bicycle and golf clubs, from a managing director of a local firm in relation to a construction contract related to a train station. The executive hasn’t been charged.

While the next general election must be held by November 2025, it could come sooner as observers say Wong is likely to seek an early mandate before brewing economic uncertainties have a greater impact on the trade-reliant nation. The PAP had its worst-ever showing in 2020—despite winning 89% of the parliamentary seats—due in part to concerns about the economy.

When Iswaran was charged in January, Wong said that the city-state’s stance on maintaining clean government was “non-negotiable.”

“This is part of our DNA,” he said. “There can be no compromise, no relaxation, no fudging of this, no matter the political price.”