Update 7 Oct 2024: Former transport minister Iswaran began his 12-mth jail on 7 Oct 2024
Iswaran housed in single-man cell due to 'higher safety and security risk'
Former transport minister S Iswaran has been put in a single-man cell due to the higher safety and security risk of being housed with other inmates, the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) said on Monday (Oct 7).
This cell is about 6.9 sq m including toilet space and he has been provided with a straw mat and two blankets on which to sleep, SPS said on Monday night in response to queries from CNA. SPS said all inmates in its custody receive the same treatment and are subject to the same prison rules and processes.
“S Iswaran underwent safety, security and medical assessment, as per other inmates. As we assessed that there is a higher safety and security risk for S Iswaran to be housed with other inmates, we have housed him in a single-man cell.” The 62-year-old began his 12-month jail term on Monday after surrendering at the State Courts ahead of a 4pm deadline.
Former transport minister S Iswaran surrenders at the State Courts on 7th Oct 24 and begin his jail term
S Iswaran arrives at the State Courts in Singapore on Oct 7, 2024
Former transport minister S Iswaran arrived at the State Courts on Monday (Oct 7) ahead of the deadline given for him to surrender and begin his jail term of 12 months. Dressed down in a short-sleeved navy shirt and dark pants, the 62-year-old was dropped off in a white Toyota Alphard with a relative at about 3.30pm.
He did not respond to questions from the media about how he felt, any preparations he had made or if he had any message for his former constituents. He checked on a member of the media who fell down at a flight of steps where others have fallen during media scrums, before entering the court and taking the escalators up to the mentions court on the fourth floor. A small group of supporters, including his bailor and some of his lawyers from Davinder Singh Chambers, had arrived minutes before and were waiting for him outside Court 4A, where he was to surrender. Iswaran's wife was not present.
When he arrived at the fourth floor, he hugged all seven members of the group, shaking their hands and expressing his appreciation to lawyer Navin Thevar. He also hugged deputy public prosecutor-turned-defence lawyer Asoka Markandu when the latter appeared in court. In contrast to previous court appearances where he appeared grim or contemplative, Iswaran seemed to be in a lighter mood on Monday afternoon, smiling and exchanging small talk with his supporters. He was taken away to begin his jail term after a brief wait in the courtroom.
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Former Singapore minister S Iswaran sentenced to 12 months' jail for obtaining valuables worth S$403,300, obstructing justice
Iswaran arrives at the High Court on Oct 3, 2024
Former transport minister S Iswaran has been sentenced to jail for obtaining gifts worth about S$403,300 (US$313,200) over seven years, from two businessmen he considered his friends. The 62-year-old was given a jail term of 12 months on Thursday (Oct 3), after his decision to plead guilty on the first day of trial proceedings cut short what was set to be a protracted trial with 56 prosecution witnesses.
In sentencing, Justice Vincent Hoong said he had considered submissions on sentence from both prosecution and defence but was "ultimately unable to agree with both the positions taken". Iswaran's lead lawyer Davinder Singh had argued for no more than eight weeks' jail, while Deputy Attorney-General Tai Wei Shyong sought a jail term of six to seven months. "I'm of the view it is appropriate to impose a sentence in excess of both parties' positions," said Justice Hoong, adding that taking the submission of either prosecution or defence would result in a "manifestly inadequate sentence".
Justice Hoong noted certain aggravating factors such as the total duration of Iswaran's offending, the high office he occupied and the overall harm to public interest as well as trust in public institutions. Mr Singh asked for the jail term to be deferred to Oct 7, and for Iswaran to surrender at 4pm at the State Courts that day. However, he stressed that this is subject to the defence taking instructions from Iswaran, alluding to the possibility of an appeal. Iswaran remains out on bail of S$800,000 in the meantime.
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AGC will not be prosecuting David Lum for dealings with IswaranLive: Iswaran awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to five charges
Iswaran's family & friends arrived at the High Court earlier this morning, among them is Iswaran's wife Taylor Mary Kay
Former transport minister S Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months' jail on Thursday (Oct 3). We are closing our live coverage of Iswaran's sentencing today.
He pleaded guilty to five charges last week - four charges of obtaining valuable items as a public servant and one charge of obstruction of justice. Another 30 charges were taken into consideration for sentencing.
The prosecution earlier sought six to seven months' jail, while the defence had argued for no more than eight weeks imprisonment.
Singapore ex-minister gets 12 months prison in rare case
Subramaniam Iswaran was Singapore's first minister to be charged with corruption in nearly 50 years
Subramaniam Iswaran, a senior cabinet minister in Singapore's government, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison in a high-profile trial that has gripped the wealthy nation.
Iswaran, 62, pleaded guilty to accepting gifts worth more than S$403,000 ($311,882; £234,586) while in public office, as well as obstructing the course of justice. The gifts included tickets to the Formula 1 Grand Prix, a Brompton T-line bicycle, alcohol and a ride on a private jet. Justice Vincent Hoong, who oversaw the case in Singapore's High Court, emphasised that the former transport minister's crimes were an abuse of power and jeopardised people’s trust in public institutions. He also noted that Iswaran seemed to think he would be acquitted.
"In his letter to the prime minister, he stated he rejected (the charges) and expressed his strong belief he would be acquitted," said Justice Hoong. "Thus I have difficulty accepting these are indicative of his remorse." Iswaran will report to prison on October 7. He will serve his sentence at Changi, the same prison that holds Singapore's death row prisoners, where the cells don't have fans and most inmates sleep on straw mats instead of beds. He is Singapore's first political figure to be tried in court in nearly 50 years.
Iswaran convicted of 5 charges pleaded guilty, will be sentenced on Oct 3
Former transport minister S. Iswaran pleaded guilty on Sept 24, on what was supposed to be the first day of his scheduled trial.
Iswaran, 62, is now convicted of five charges, and the prosecution is seeking a jail term of six to seven months. He is expected to be sentenced on Oct 3.
Four of these charges are for obtaining, as a public servant, valuable items from Formula One (F1) race promoter Singapore GP’s chairman Ong Beng Seng and Mr David Lum, managing director of mainboard-listed construction company Lum Chang Holdings. Iswaran also admitted to one charge of obstructing the course of justice.
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Singapore's disgraced former transport minister S. Iswaran awaits sentencing
A Singapore court was due on Thursday to sentence a former transport minister convicted last week of receiving more than $300,000 worth of gifts, in what could be the first jailing of an ex-cabinet member in a city-state known for clean governance. Iswaran, who was a minister for 13 years, pleaded guilty to four counts of receiving gifts and one of obstructing justice, after prosecutors went ahead with only five of the 35 charges in a rare case that has gripped Singapore.
A charge of accepting gifts from someone a public official has dealings with carries a jail term of up to two years and a fine, while obstructing justice is punishable by up to seven years imprisonment and a fine. The investigation into Iswaran, 62, centred on allegations he accepted lavish gifts from businessmen that included tickets to English Premier League soccer matches, the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, London musicals and a ride on a private jet.
The value of those totalled more than $400,000 Singapore dollars, the prosecution said.
The case has shocked Singapore, which prides itself on having a well-paid and efficient bureaucracy as well as strong and squeaky clean governance. It was among the world's top five least corrupt countries last year, according to Transparency International's corruption perception index. The last corruption case involving a Singaporean minister Teh Cheang Wan was in 1986, when its national development minister was investigated for alleged bribery but died before any charges were filed in court.
Former Singapore transport minister Iswaran pleads guilty after charges amended
The former minister, who last held roles in transport and trade relations, admitted to obtaining valuables as a public servant and obstruction of justice
Former Singapore transport minister S Iswaran pleaded guilty on Tuesday (Sep 24) on what was expected to be the first day of his criminal trial, after saying for months he would be contesting the case to clear his name.
The 62-year-old admitted to four charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which forbids all public servants from obtaining any valuable thing from someone involved with them in an official capacity, and one charge of obstruction of justice. Another 30 charges will be taken into consideration for sentencing.
The valuables involved in all the charges include tickets to theatre shows, football matches and the Singapore F1 Grand Prix, whisky, international flights and a hotel stay. The amount involved is more than S$400,000 (over US$300,000). The hearing started promptly at 10am, with the prosecution tendering a fresh set of charges.
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What were Iswaran's dealings with Ong Beng Seng and Lum Kok Seng?
As the prosecution set out its case against former transport minister S Iswaran on Tuesday (Sep 24), details emerged on his dealings with businessmen and his attempt to avoid being investigated by Singapore's anti-corruption agency.
Iswaran, 62, pleaded guilty to four charges of obtaining valuables as a public servant and one charge of obstructing justice. It was a surprise decision after the prosecution amended two counts of corruption to lesser charges under Section 165 - a rarely used provision in the Penal Code. The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) started looking into Iswaran while investigating a separate matter, then-prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said last year.
It was revealed on Tuesday that the CPIB had been investigating associates of property tycoon Ong Beng Seng in May 2023, when it came across a flight manifest of Mr Ong's private jet. This was for a trip from Singapore to Doha, Qatar in December 2022. Iswaran had been on this flight.
All eyes on Iswaran’s trial as it begins on Sept 24
Former transport minister S. Iswaran is the first political office-holder in nearly five decades to be tried in court
More than a year after his arrest by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) in July 2023, former transport minister S. Iswaran will go to court on Sept 24 to defend himself against 35 criminal charges.
The first tranche of the High Court trial will be held until Sept 27. Further trial dates have been set in November and from January to March 2025.
Iswaran, 62, is the first political office-holder in nearly five decades to be tried in court.
Former transport minister S Iswaran's trial moved back 2 weeks to Sep 24
The criminal trial of former transport minister S Iswaran, originally set for Sep 10, has been moved to Sep 24, a spokesperson for the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) said on Thursday (Sep 5).
The spokesperson said both the prosecution and defence had requested the court to adjourn the start of the hearing. "Because it was a joint request, the court acceded to it," added the AGC spokesperson.
Davinder Singh Chambers, the law firm hired by Iswaran, declined comment when asked why the defence requested an adjournment. CNA has also contacted the prosecution to ask about its request. The adjournment comes after the Court of Appeal on Tuesday dismissed Iswaran's third bid to have the prosecution make available all statements from its intended witnesses.
Trial of former transport minister Iswaran pushed back, now to start on Sept 10
Former transport minister S. Iswaran arriving at the Supreme Court with his lawyers on May 8
The criminal trial of former transport minister S. Iswaran, which was originally slated to begin on Aug 13, has been pushed back to start in September instead.
On Aug 12, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) said the first tranche of trial dates is now fixed for Sept 10 to 13.
Responding to media queries, a spokesperson for the AGC said the earlier set of trial dates has been vacated at the request of defence counsel.
Iswaran fails in third bid for prosecution to provide all witness statements
Former transport minister S Iswaran (centre) arriving at the State Courts on Jan 18, 2024, when he was charged with multiple offences including corruption. He is accompanied by his lawyers Davinder Singh (left) and Navin Thevar
Former transport minister S Iswaran on Tuesday (Sep 3) failed in his third attempt to compel the prosecution to provide statements of all its witnesses to the defence.
The 62-year-old had tried to do so by referring two questions of law of public interest to the Court of Appeal, but the three-judge court found that the required conditions were not met. The two questions Iswaran raised were: Whether the prosecution has to include in its case the facts and evidence supporting the charges in the form of witness statements, and whether the court can and ought to order the prosecution to do so.
Iswaran had made two previous bids to obtain all the prosecution witness statements before his case goes to trial. These attempts had been thrown out by an assistant registrar at a criminal case disclosure conference and by a High Court judge
related:
Former transport minister Iswaran makes third bid for statements of trial witnesses
Former transport minister S. Iswaran arriving at the Supreme Court on Sept 3, 2024
With his trial due to begin in a week’s time, former transport minister S. Iswaran went to the Court of Appeal on Sept 3 in his third attempt to obtain conditioned statements of every prosecution witness.
A conditioned statement is a mode of giving evidence in a written statement, rather than oral testimony.
Iswaran, 62, is seeking permission from the court to file what is known as a criminal reference – an application asking Singapore’s top court to answer a question of law of public interest.
High Court rejects Iswaran’s bid for prosecution to provide statements of witnesses; trial set for Aug 13
Former transport minister S. Iswaran (right) arriving at the Supreme Court with his lawyer on July 5
A High Court judge has rejected a bid by former transport minister S. Iswaran to compel the prosecution to provide conditioned statements of all 56 witnesses it has lined up for his upcoming trial on 35 charges.
A conditioned statement is a mode of giving evidence in a written statement, rather than oral testimony, often to expedite court proceedings.
The prosecution has said that since it does not intend to rely on conditioned statements for Iswaran’s trial, none were recorded from the witnesses, and, thus, none were provided to the defence.
Former transport minister Iswaran began his 12-mth jail on 7 Oct 2024
Iswaran housed in single-man cell due to 'higher safety and security risk'
Former transport minister S Iswaran has been put in a single-man cell due to the higher safety and security risk of being housed with other inmates, the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) said on Monday (Oct 7).
This cell is about 6.9 sq m including toilet space and he has been provided with a straw mat and two blankets on which to sleep, SPS said on Monday night in response to queries from CNA. SPS said all inmates in its custody receive the same treatment and are subject to the same prison rules and processes.
“S Iswaran underwent safety, security and medical assessment, as per other inmates. As we assessed that there is a higher safety and security risk for S Iswaran to be housed with other inmates, we have housed him in a single-man cell.” The 62-year-old began his 12-month jail term on Monday after surrendering at the State Courts ahead of a 4pm deadline.
Charges against Former Transport Minister Iswaran
Former Transport Minister S. Iswaran faces 27 charges including corruption, says he is not guilty
Some of the charges were related to alleged incidents that happened between 2015 and 2021, and included receiving two tickets to a football match between West Ham United and Everton. A court officer told the court the charges were read to him before the hearing.
Iswaran, who was arrested in July 2023 by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), arrived at the State Courts at about 8am on Jan 18. He arrived with his legal team, which includes Senior Counsel Davinder Singh from Davinder Singh Chambers, and did not comment when The Straits Times approached him. The prosecution team is led by Chief Prosecutor Tan Kiat Pheng, who is assisted by two Deputy Public Prosecutors, Jiang Ke Yue and Kelvin Chong.
related: LIVE - Iswaran faces 27 charges
Corruption probe involving Singapore Transport Minister
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| Singapore's Minister for Transport S Iswaran delivers his opening address at the Changi Aviation Summit on May 17, 2022 |
The investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) into Transport Minister S Iswaran has concluded, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing on Tuesday (Jan 9).
In a written answer to Progress Singapore Party’s Hazel Poa, Mr Chan, replying on behalf of the Prime Minister, said the case is currently being reviewed by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC). Ms Poa, a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP), had asked for an update on CPIB’s investigation of Mr Iswaran. “I understand that there is much public interest in this matter,” Mr Chan said. “I want to give my assurance that this case will be put through the due legal process.” He noted that CPIB has completed a “robust and thorough investigation”, and the matter is now before AGC. “It would therefore not be appropriate to comment on the matter at this juncture,” he said.
On Jul 12 last year, CPIB first revealed that Mr Iswaran was assisting with an investigation into a case uncovered by the anti-graft agency. Two days later, CPIB said the Transport Minister had in fact been arrested on Jul 11 and subsequently released on bail. Hotel Properties Limited managing director Ong Beng Seng was arrested on the same day. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong subsequently placed Mr Iswaran on a leave of absence. Mr Lee also said in August that Mr Iswaran had his pay reduced to S$8,500 (US$6,390) a month until further notice. Mr Iswaran continues to draw the full annual MP allowance of S$192,500.
