Former transport minister S Iswaran convicted of 5 charges, sentencing on Oct 3

In the High Court on Sep 24, former transport minister S Iswaran was convicted on charges of receiving gifts while in office. At the start of the trial, the prosecutors had decided to replace two corruption charges with two lesser charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code. The prosecution stressed that the corruption charges were not withdrawn but amended and there was good basis for those charges. It saw the trial proceed with only five charges, including four offences related to public servants obtaining valuable things and one charge of obstruction of justice. The 62-year-old admitted to all five. The court judge said the remaining 30 charges Iswaran faces will be taken into consideration in deciding how he will be punished. Sentencing has been set for Oct 3. Jeraldine Yap reports.

[johnho]

higher salary doesn't mean no corruption, Minister should be hold at a higher standard

[ivangim]

OBS is liable, too, for knowingly inducing the civil servant with valuable gifts, perks, and privileges. S. Iswaran, at that time, was an official government minister and was not functioning as a private individual, though he became a friend of OBS. Which businessman in any country would not want to become a friend of a government minister?

[Andrew-tze]

As a public servant the penalty need to be double the average joe. A 6–7-month sentence is a joke of a kangaroo court.

[sultanmamat]

6-7mths only?!? Bullshit. My buddy gets 7-9yrs for section 8a/8b. See how that is..double standards.

[LawrenceWank]

If high salary cannot prevent corruption, then the opposite must be true. How much pay cut should all PAP minister take? 30%, 40%, 50%, or 60%?

[callmealegend]

Higher salary = Higher punishment. 5 years in jail and caning for corruption.

[vincecarlo]

ONLY 6-7 mths for CORRUPTED MINISTER
LUDICROUS

[profitmuhammed]

There is a need for investigation on a whole cabinet, there might be some others hiding before their term ends

[vincecarlo]

In comparison
AMKTC general manager Victor Wong Chee Meng, 60, JAILED for 39 months for Receiving more than S$86, 000

KUDOS to SG Judiciary System
👍👏👏👏

[NowMarket]

In Jan 2024, he said he will contest all charges. In Sep 2024, he plead guilty to 5 charges. My grandfather always tell me NOT to trust politicians, better trust the Dog.

[Laladododadada]

As the Minister of Transportation should set an example as a warning to others and should be sentenced more severely than the average person!

[yusrihanif]

Why only 5 charges and the least amount? How is this not a corruption?

The more concern is that this S.Iswaran, in a position of Public servant, MP, Minister, accepts all this gift knowingly and blatantly shun off it is not a corruption.

[GKP]

Since the minister admitted guilt for bribery, shouldn't persons who bribed him be prosecuted too?

[bobafett]

We want to know more about OBS involvement also why he always laughing and smiling ?

[Danzo_Dattori]

What a disgrace and tarnishment to Singapore’s reputation. I’m ashamed

[justingomez]

The AGC failed in its duties
95 % of charges dropped.
The matter should have been trialled as other parties were involved in criminal gratifications.
Making and receiving gratifications to enrich themselves
Lately, PAP Minister's and MP'S have been in the limelight for unethical and immoral practices.
PAP cushion tact to limit its repute damage has failed miserably.
Another blanket .
This matter should have been trialled. However, political masquerading and political power pressure upon the AGC and others inclusive of the legal representatives undermined the administration of justice.
Without a doubt !

[GH_HellBringer]

And just like that, I think our legal system is a joke.

[ImperialArmour]

What a joke, what type of Public Prosecutors are these?

[lee]

The math doesn't add up. The gift Iswaran illegally obtained amount to be around $100K at most. Given his pay as a Minister to be at least $1M per year (and that is only the basic, I am sure it's much more with the bonus, etc), that add up to his mere one month salary at most. Akin to asking if an average salary man in Singapore willing to forego his future for a mere $2, 000 corrupted benefit?
There is more to this than meets the eye...

[fhetfet]

I was hoping PAP would not resort to and yet they are as mine expection....wayang.... double standard when their own commits crime.