S Iswaran, an Indian-origin former transport minister and previously part of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) in Singapore has been sentenced to 12 months in jail in graft case and for obstructing justice by the High Court.&nbsp;

Iswaran has been charged with&nbsp;four counts of accepting more than $300,000 worth of gifts&nbsp;from someone involved with him as a public servant and one charge of obstructing justice.

In what is being dubbed as the first jailing of an ex-cabinet leader, the court said Iswaran would be&nbsp;allowed to remain on bail for the next few days but has to begin his jail term on Monday (Oct 7).

It was last week that Iswaran pleaded guilty to the charges with the prosecutors reducing the total charges from 35 to five.&nbsp;According to the charge sheet filed earlier, Iswaran received tickets to English Premier League football matches, musicals, a flight on Ong's private plane and tickets to the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix as alleged bribes.

Notably, this is the first ministerial corruption trial and sentencing in Singapore in nearly half a century - reflecting the gravity of the situation. The last case was in 1986 when&nbsp;the national development minister was investigated for allegedly accepting bribes. The minister died before he could be charged in court.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/singapores-ex-minister-pleads-guilty-on-charges-for-accepting-illegal-gifts-761696">Watch |&nbsp;Singapore's Ex-Minister Pleads Guilty On Charges For Accepting Illegal Gifts</a>

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<h2>Singapore's no-corruption image&nbsp;</h2>

Notably, the island country pays its top officials among the world's highest public salaries and prides itself on low corruption.

According to the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, the Southeast Asian country is ranked as the fifth-least corrupt country in the world. Hence, allegations of corruption are taken extremely seriously.&nbsp;

Iswaran was selected as an MP&nbsp;way back in 1997 and appointed to the cabinet in 2006. As the transport minister, his key focus area was to rebuild Singapore as an air hub in the aftermath of the pandemic and present the country as a maritime centre.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/singapore-minister-subramaniam-iswaran-resigns-after-being-charged-in-rare-corruption-case-681122" target="_blank">Also read |&nbsp;Singapore minister Subramaniam Iswaran resigns after being charged in rare corruption case</a>

Iswaran also gained popularity for his role in bringing the Formula One night race to the country in 2008.

Prior to being involved in the legal troubles, Iswaran also served as Singapore’s minister-in-charge of trade relations.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

S Iswaran, an Indian-origin former transport minister and previously part of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) in Singapore has been sentenced to 12 months in jail in graft case and for obstructing justice by the High Court.

S Iswaran, an Indian-origin former transport minister and previously part of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) in Singapore has been sentenced to 12 months in jail in graft case and for obstructing justice by the High Court. Iswaran has been charged with four counts of accepting more than $300,000 worth of gifts from someone involved with him as a public servant and one charge of obstructing justice. In what is being dubbed as the first jailing of an ex-cabinet leader, the court said Iswaran would be allowed to remain on bail for the next few days but has to begin his jail term on Monday (Oct 7). It was last week that Iswaran pleaded guilty to the charges with the prosecutors reducing the total charges from 35 to five. According to the charge sheet filed earlier, Iswaran received tickets to English Premier League football matches, musicals, a flight on Ong's private plane and tickets to the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix as alleged bribes. Notably, this is the first ministerial corruption trial and sentencing in Singapore in nearly half a century - reflecting the gravity of the situation. The last case was in 1986 when the national development minister was investigated for allegedly accepting bribes. The minister died before he could be charged in court. Watch | Singapore's Ex-Minister Pleads Guilty On Charges For Accepting Illegal Gifts × Singapore's no-corruption image Notably, the island country pays its top officials among the world's highest public salaries and prides itself on low corruption. According to the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, the Southeast Asian country is ranked as the fifth-least corrupt country in the world. Hence, allegations of corruption are taken extremely seriously. Iswaran was selected as an MP way back in 1997 and appointed to the cabinet in 2006. As the transport minister, his key focus area was to rebuild Singapore as an air hub in the aftermath of the pandemic and present the country as a maritime centre. Also read | Singapore minister Subramaniam Iswaran resigns after being charged in rare corruption case Iswaran also gained popularity for his role in bringing the Formula One night race to the country in 2008. Prior to being involved in the legal troubles, Iswaran also served as Singapore’s minister-in-charge of trade relations. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian-origin Singapore ex-minister S Iswaran sentenced to 12 months in jail in graft case

Indian-origin Member of Parliament Murali Pillai,&nbsp;will become the Minister of State for Law and Transport in Singapore's new cabinet under Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Pillai, who is 56 years old, will officially start his role on July 1, according to The Straits Times. Other cabinet members will begin their duties on May 15. Pillai is a lawyer and a member of the ruling People's Action Party.

<h2>Other Indian-origin politicians in the cabinet</h2>

The Singapore Prime Minister's Office announced the new cabinet lineup on Monday (May 13), which includes several Indian-origin politicians. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan will continue as Foreign Affairs Minister, K. Shanmugam will retain his roles as Minister of Home Affairs and Law, and Indranee Rajah will stay on as Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.

The new cabinet, to be led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, will officially take office on Wednesday. Wong will succeed Lee Hsien Loong, who has led the country for 20 years and is stepping down. Gan Kim Yong, aged 65, will be promoted to Deputy Prime Minister as part of a cabinet reshuffle, while continuing to serve as Trade and Industry Minister. He will also serve as acting prime minister in the absence of the prime minister.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/im-singaporean-not-chinese-tiktok-video-by-chinese-tourist-triggers-debate-in-city-state-720394">Also read |&nbsp;‘I’m&nbsp;a Singaporean, not Chinese’:&nbsp;TikTok video by Chinese tourist triggers debate in city-state</a>

He will also become the chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, which acts as the country's central bank, and will take charge of the strategy group within the Prime Minister's Office.

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, aged 63, will continue in his current role. Originally designated as the successor to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Heng has declined to assume the position.

In addition, Wong, aged 51, announced other promotions and appointments on Monday, but there were no significant changes to the ministers leading each ministry in this reshuffle. For instance, Wong will retain his position as the head of the Finance Ministry.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/singapore-allows-workers-to-request-4-day-weeks-and-more-work-from-home-711906">Also read |&nbsp;Singapore allows workers to request 4-day weeks and more work from home</a>

Wong mentioned that his new team includes both experienced ministers and younger members. He plans to move around the fourth-generation (4G) ministers of the People's Action Party (PAP) to different roles. This way, they can gain more experience and knowledge if the party wins the next election.

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian-origin Member of Parliament Murali Pillai, will become the Minister of State for Law and Transport in Singapore's new cabinet under Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Indian-origin Member of Parliament Murali Pillai, will become the Minister of State for Law and Transport in Singapore's new cabinet under Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Pillai, who is 56 years old, will officially start his role on July 1, according to The Straits Times. Other cabinet members will begin their duties on May 15. Pillai is a lawyer and a member of the ruling People's Action Party. Other Indian-origin politicians in the cabinet The Singapore Prime Minister's Office announced the new cabinet lineup on Monday (May 13), which includes several Indian-origin politicians. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan will continue as Foreign Affairs Minister, K. Shanmugam will retain his roles as Minister of Home Affairs and Law, and Indranee Rajah will stay on as Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. The new cabinet, to be led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, will officially take office on Wednesday. Wong will succeed Lee Hsien Loong, who has led the country for 20 years and is stepping down. Gan Kim Yong, aged 65, will be promoted to Deputy Prime Minister as part of a cabinet reshuffle, while continuing to serve as Trade and Industry Minister. He will also serve as acting prime minister in the absence of the prime minister. Also read | ‘I’m a Singaporean, not Chinese’: TikTok video by Chinese tourist triggers debate in city-state He will also become the chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, which acts as the country's central bank, and will take charge of the strategy group within the Prime Minister's Office. Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, aged 63, will continue in his current role. Originally designated as the successor to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Heng has declined to assume the position. In addition, Wong, aged 51, announced other promotions and appointments on Monday, but there were no significant changes to the ministers leading each ministry in this reshuffle. For instance, Wong will retain his position as the head of the Finance Ministry. Also read | Singapore allows workers to request 4-day weeks and more work from home Wong mentioned that his new team includes both experienced ministers and younger members. He plans to move around the fourth-generation (4G) ministers of the People's Action Party (PAP) to different roles. This way, they can gain more experience and knowledge if the party wins the next election. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Murali Pillai? Newly appointed as Singapore’s minister of state for law and transport

A property tycoon in Singapore, who is known for bringing Formula One races to the city-state, was arrested this week in a rare high-level graft investigation. According to a report by the news agency Reuters on Friday (July 14), the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said that Ong Beng Seng, the managing director of Hotel Properties and Singapore's Transport Minister S.

A property tycoon in Singapore, who is known for bringing Formula One races to the city-state, was arrested this week in a rare high-level graft investigation. According to a report by the news agency Reuters on Friday (July 14), the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said that Ong Beng Seng, the managing director of Hotel Properties and Singapore's Transport Minister S. Iswaran were arrested on Tuesday and subsequently released on bail. Transport Minister Iswaran's passport has been impounded but Ong was allowed to travel out of Singapore on Friday. "CPIB assessed and acceded to Ong’s request to travel overseas. Ong’s bail quantum was also increased to S$100,000. Upon his return, Ong is required to report to CPIB and surrender his passport to the bureau," the CPIB said. Probe details not yet known, minister told to go on leave The details of the investigation have not been disclosed by the anti-corruption bureau yet. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that he ordered Iswaran to take a leave of absence until the investigation was over. And a day later, the Prime Minister's Office said that the transport minister was not allowed to leave Singapore during the investigation and he would not have access to any official resources or government buildings. No charges filed against Ong, says his company In a statement, Singapore-listed Hotel Properties said that no charges had been filed against Ong and he was asked by the CPIB to provide information on his interactions with Iswaran. As per London Stock Exchange's Refinitiv Eikon, Ong's company has around 38 hotels and resorts operating under brands that include COMO, Four Seasons, Hard Rock Hotels and Concorde. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Singapore tycoon, who brought F1 races to city-state, arrested in high-level graft probe

It may take four to five years for the COVID-19 pandemic to end and the world to look to a post-Covid normal, a senior Singaporean minister has warned.

Speaking at the Singapore Perspectives 2021 conference hosted by Singapore's Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) on Monday, Singapore's Education Minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force, said there are still many uncertainties to contend with in the next few years, while sharing his hopes about how the future can be "reset" once the pandemic is over, the Channel News Asia reported.

"At some point of time the pandemic will pass, but it may take four to five years before we finally see the end of the pandemic and the start of a post-Covid normal. What will this new post-Covid world look like? No one can tell," Mr Wong said.

He said there was still a great uncertainty about how the coronavirus will shape society in the coming years.

He said adhering to safe management measures like mask-wearing and avoiding crowds will continue for this year and "maybe a good part of next year".

"Beyond that, the availability of COVID-19 vaccinations will progressively restart global travel, but getting the world vaccinated won't be quick or easy," he said during the conference.

The Government has planned for everyone in Singapore to be vaccinated by the third quarter of this year, but Mr Wong conceded that there could still be "bumps along the way".

He noted that the current vaccines may not be so effective against new mutant strains of the virus, and will have to be modified to counter them.

"In the positive scenario, this means the vaccine becomes a bit like an annual flu jab ... or perhaps we develop a vaccine that works for all strains. But in the worst case, we end up always a step behind an evolving virus, and you will not be able to catch up in time," he said.

"So there are still tremendous uncertainties ahead of us. And the bottom line is that we live in a shared world and no one is safe until everyone is safe," the report quoted the minister as saying.

Looking ahead to the post-pandemic future, Mr Wong said the current crisis can set the stage for a "software update" or a "reboot" of Singapore after the damage inflicted by the virus.

"We must reset our social compact to emerge as a fairer and more equal society. The pandemic may be indiscriminate about who it infects but its impact is anything but equal. It has, in fact, widened the gulf between the haves and the have-nots," he said.

Mr Wong said that Singapore started to prioritise reducing inequality a decade ago, and that last year, many emergency measures were introduced to help lower-income groups.

But this year, the temporary measures will have to "taper down" as the economy improves.

However, the minister foresees that Singaporeans will need more assurance and support in a more uncertain and volatile world.

"The impact of the pandemic has created an added impetus to strengthen our social support system. There will be a permanent shift towards further strengthening of our social safety nets in Singapore to protect the disadvantaged and vulnerable," he said, adding that it will have to be done in a "sustainable manner over the long term".

It may take four to five years for the COVID-19 pandemic to end and the world to look to a post-Covid normal, a senior Singaporean minister has warned. Speaking at the Singapore Perspectives 2021 conference hosted by Singapore's Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) on Monday, Singapore's Education Minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force, said there are still many uncertainties to contend with in the next few years, while sharing his hopes about how the future can be "reset" once the pandemic is over, the Channel News Asia reported.

It may take four to five years for the COVID-19 pandemic to end and the world to look to a post-Covid normal, a senior Singaporean minister has warned. Speaking at the Singapore Perspectives 2021 conference hosted by Singapore's Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) on Monday, Singapore's Education Minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force, said there are still many uncertainties to contend with in the next few years, while sharing his hopes about how the future can be "reset" once the pandemic is over, the Channel News Asia reported. "At some point of time the pandemic will pass, but it may take four to five years before we finally see the end of the pandemic and the start of a post-Covid normal. What will this new post-Covid world look like? No one can tell," Mr Wong said. He said there was still a great uncertainty about how the coronavirus will shape society in the coming years. He said adhering to safe management measures like mask-wearing and avoiding crowds will continue for this year and "maybe a good part of next year". "Beyond that, the availability of COVID-19 vaccinations will progressively restart global travel, but getting the world vaccinated won't be quick or easy," he said during the conference. The Government has planned for everyone in Singapore to be vaccinated by the third quarter of this year, but Mr Wong conceded that there could still be "bumps along the way". He noted that the current vaccines may not be so effective against new mutant strains of the virus, and will have to be modified to counter them. "In the positive scenario, this means the vaccine becomes a bit like an annual flu jab ... or perhaps we develop a vaccine that works for all strains. But in the worst case, we end up always a step behind an evolving virus, and you will not be able to catch up in time," he said. "So there are still tremendous uncertainties ahead of us. And the bottom line is that we live in a shared world and no one is safe until everyone is safe," the report quoted the minister as saying. Looking ahead to the post-pandemic future, Mr Wong said the current crisis can set the stage for a "software update" or a "reboot" of Singapore after the damage inflicted by the virus. "We must reset our social compact to emerge as a fairer and more equal society. The pandemic may be indiscriminate about who it infects but its impact is anything but equal. It has, in fact, widened the gulf between the haves and the have-nots," he said. Mr Wong said that Singapore started to prioritise reducing inequality a decade ago, and that last year, many emergency measures were introduced to help lower-income groups. But this year, the temporary measures will have to "taper down" as the economy improves. However, the minister foresees that Singaporeans will need more assurance and support in a more uncertain and volatile world. "The impact of the pandemic has created an added impetus to strengthen our social support system. There will be a permanent shift towards further strengthening of our social safety nets in Singapore to protect the disadvantaged and vulnerable," he said, adding that it will have to be done in a "sustainable manner over the long term".

Covid pandemic could last 4 to 5 years: Singapore minister