Ex-S’pore minister Iswaran pleads guilty to bribery charges

 

FMT:

Ex-S’pore minister

Iswaran pleads guilty to

bribery charges

Bloomberg

-24 Sep 2024, 11:19 AM

The former transport minister pleads guilty to five amended charges, while 30 others were taken into consideration.

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Former Singapore transport minister S Iswaran was initially charged with 35 counts of corruption, including receiving luxury goods and tickets to musicals and soccer matches in the UK. (AFP pic)

SINGAPORE: 

Former transport minister S Iswaran has pleaded guilty to bribery charges after the prosecution amended the indictment against him, a surprising twist to the biggest political scandal in nearly four decades.

Iswaran pleaded guilty after the amended charges were read out to him this morning.

The prosecution proceeded with four charges against him for obtaining valuable items as a public servant and one count of obstructing justice, while 30 other charges were taken into consideration.

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

The 62-year-old, who resigned from his post back in January, had vowed to defend his innocence in court.

The court hearing would have come 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, a former party member, is a test for a party that has long relied on its reputation for clean governance to win all elections since Singapore’s independence in 1965.