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

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 withfour counts of accepting more than $300,000 worth of giftsfrom 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 beallowed 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 whenthe national development minister was investigated for allegedly accepting bribes. The minister died before he could be charged in court.

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 MPway 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.

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)