SINGAPORE– S Iswaran, Singapore’s former Transport Minister, pleaded guilty to five amended charges on Tuesday (24 September). Initially, the case was expected to be a lengthy trial lasting months. The 62-year-old had previously planned to defend himself to clear his name, but eventually chose to plead guilty.
Change of Charges by Prosecutor
After considering the evidence and the legal risks of proving it in court, the Attorney General’s Chambers amended Iswaran’s charge from one under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) to one under Section 165 of the Penal Code. This article prohibits public officials from accepting items of value from parties with whom they have an official relationship.
The original charges stated that Iswaran received gratuities in the form of Singapore Formula 1 tickets worth S$145,434, a private jet flight to Doha worth S$10,410, a one-night stay at the Four Seasons Doha worth S$4,737, and a business class flight back to Singapore worth S$5,700 from businessman Ong Beng Seng. In return, Iswaran allegedly advanced Ong’s business interests through a deal between Singapore GP and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
Amended Charges
In the updated charges, Iswaran is accused of receiving Formula 1 tickets worth a total of S$145,434, as well as luxury travel facilities at no cost in relation to his functions as minister. These changes aim to increase the prosecution’s chances of reaching a guilty verdict. In addition, corruption charges were replaced with more specific offences against public officials.
The Reasoning Behind the Guilty Plea
According to lawyers, Iswaran’s decision to plead guilty was most likely driven by the chance of a lighter sentence. The new charges under Section 165 have lesser legal consequences than corruption charges under the PCA. In his plea, Iswaran also handed over S$380,305 worth of illegal gains to the state as a form of disgorgement, which is different from restitution.
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Potential Penalties
Iswaran now faces a maximum of two years’ imprisonment or a fine under Section 165. In addition, he also faces up to seven years’ imprisonment for obstruction of justice under Section 204A of the Penal Code. If found guilty of the previous corruption charges, he could face up to seven years’ imprisonment, a fine of S$100,000, or both.
The Role of Legal Strategy
This legal process reflects the complexity of dealing with cases involving public officials. Prosecutors have the authority to amend charges based on public interest and available evidence. Iswaran’s guilty plea was also a mitigating factor that could reduce the sentence, with the prosecution seeking a sentence of six to seven months’ imprisonment, while the defence team proposed eight weeks. Sentencing for Iswaran is scheduled to take place on 3 October.
The case highlights the importance of transparency and integrity in government, while demonstrating the flexibility of the law in dealing with misconduct by public officials.
