INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
A Singapore court on Thursday sentenced a former minister to 12 months in prison for obstructing justice and receiving more than $300,000
worth of gifts, in the first jailing of an ex-cabinet member in a city-state famous for its clean governance.S
Iswaran, who was a cabinet member for 13 years and has held the trade, communications and transport portfolios, pleaded guilty last week to
four counts of improperly receiving gifts and one of obstructing justice.The sentence handed down was more severe than the six to seven
all too easily be undermined by the appearance that an individual public servant had fallen below the standards of integrity and
bureaucracy as well as strong and squeaky clean governance
index.The last corruption case involving a Singaporean minister was in 1986, when its national development minister was investigated for
alleged bribery but died before any charges were filed in court.The investigation caused a stir in the Asian financial hub and centred on
allegations Iswaran while transport minister accepted expensive 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
S$400,000 (308,880.31), according to the prosecution.Iswaran, 62, faced a huge media scrum as he arrived in court and declined to answer
He showed no emotion during the court session.The judge allowed him to remain on bail for the next few days and begin his jail term on
Monday.Iswaran had initially said he was innocent and would fight to clear his name but pleaded guilty last week to the five charges put
before the court.The former minister faced a total of 35 charges, two of which were corruption-related but were later amended to charges of
involved in proving the corruption charges beyond a reasonable doubt.Iswaran was arrested in July last year and was accused of taking
kickbacks from businessmen including property tycoon Ong Beng Seng
any offence and has issued no public comment on the allegations
was a higher level of culpability when a public servant holds high office that wield greater influence over business transactions.Source:
