Singapore’s former Transport Minister, Subramaniam Iswaran, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for accepting illegal gifts and obstructing justice in a high-profile corruption case.
The 62-year-old pleaded guilty to receiving gifts valued at over S$403,000 (US$311,882) while in public office, including luxury items like Formula 1 Grand Prix tickets, a high-end bicycle, and a private jet ride.
Justice Vincent Hoong stated that Iswaran’s actions represented a serious abuse of power, and expressed concerns about Iswaran’s remorse.
“In his letter to the prime minister, he stated he rejected [the charges] and expressed his strong belief he would be acquitted.
“Thus I have difficulty accepting these are indicative of his remorse,” Hoong said.
Iswaran will begin his prison term on October 7 at Changi Prison, known for its harsh conditions. This sentencing marks the first time in nearly 50 years that a high-ranking political figure in Singapore has been tried and convicted.
The trial has cast a shadow on Singapore’s reputation for clean governance, a source of national pride. The ruling People’s Action Party has long promoted its tough stance against corruption, but this case is part of a series of scandals involving public officials that have rocked the government in recent years.
Prosecutors argued that Iswaran was “more than a passive acceptor of gifts” and sought a six to seven-month prison term. Deputy Attorney-General Tai Wei Shyong warned that allowing such acts to go unpunished would erode public trust in the government’s integrity.
Shyong said, “Not punishing such acts would send a signal that such acts are tolerated”.
Iswaran’s case is the latest in a string of political scandals involving the PAP, which faces growing criticism ahead of the next general election due by November 2025.
The corruption trial follows other incidents, including a 2023 real estate investigation involving two ministers and the resignation of Parliament’s speaker over an extramarital affair.
Law professor Eugene Tan noted that public expectations for a zero-tolerance stance on corruption are high.
Tan said, “The public were expecting the court to demonstrate zero tolerance for this sort of conduct”.
