Singapore’s former minister S. Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months in prison on Thursday for obstructing justice and receiving over S$400,000 (US$309,000) worth of gifts, marking the first time an ex-cabinet member in the city-state has been jailed for corruption, Reuters reports.
Iswaran, who served as a cabinet member for 13 years across various portfolios including trade, communications, and transport, pleaded guilty to four counts of improperly receiving gifts and one count of obstructing justice.
The court allowed Iswaran, 62, to remain on bail until Monday, when he will begin serving his sentence.
The case has sent shockwaves through Singapore, a nation known for its efficient and well-paid bureaucracy and its reputation for strong, clean governance. Ranked among the top five least corrupt countries globally according to Transparency International’s corruption perception index, Singapore’s pride in its integrity has been significantly challenged by this case.
The last time a Singaporean minister was investigated for corruption was in 1986, when the national development minister was accused of bribery but died before facing charges.
The investigation centered on allegations that Iswaran, while serving as transport minister, accepted lavish gifts from businessmen, including tickets to English Premier League soccer matches, the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, London musicals, and a private jet ride.
Initially charged with 35 offenses, Iswaran initially maintained his innocence but ultimately pleaded guilty to five charges, two of which were initially corruption-related but were amended to charges of receiving gifts.
Iswaran resigned as transport minister in January following the initial charges.
