Singapore opens its first ministerial graft trial in nearly half a century

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Singapore’s first corruption trial of a minister in nearly half a century began Tuesday, with former transport minister S. Iswaran facing charges in a rare scandal in the Asian financial hub known for its clean government.

Iswaran, a former senior politician in the long-ruling People’s Action Party, pleaded guilty in January to 35 charges related to accepting gifts such as concert tickets and golf clubs worth S$403,000 ($312,000), corruption and obstruction of justice.

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But in a surprise development at the start of the trial, local media reported that prosecutors would now only pursue five charges. Channel News Asia reported that these include four counts of government employees receiving valuables and one count of obstructing justice.

Prosecutors will file a motion to review the remaining 30 charges before issuing a verdict, she said. No reasons were given for the move.

Singapore’s ministers are among the highest paid in the world. Although the sum involved in the Iswaran case seems relatively small, the charges against him are an embarrassment to the PAP, which prides itself on its clean image. The last government minister to be charged with corruption was Wee Tun Boon, who was convicted in 1975 and jailed for accepting gifts in exchange for helping a businessman. Another government minister was investigated for corruption in 1986 but died before charges could be brought.

Iswaran resigned just before he was charged and has vowed to clear his name. His trial comes just four months after Singapore’s new prime minister, Lawrence Wong, took over from Lee Hsien Loong, who stepped down after 20 years in power.

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Before stepping down, he told me that the Iswaran case had been dealt with rigorously in accordance with the law and vowed to uphold his government’s reputation for integrity and incorruptibility. The case could cast a shadow over the PAP ahead of a general election due in late 2025.

Iswaran, 62, is alleged to have received goods from Malaysian property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, some in exchange for the Singapore-based man helping to advance his business interests. The gifts included free tickets to the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, as well as football matches and musicals in the United Kingdom. Ong owns the rights to the local Formula 1 race, and Iswaran was chairman of the grand prix’s steering committee and later an adviser.

He also allegedly received 10 bottles of whisky, 12 bottles of wine and other items from businessman Lum Kok Seng, whose company had business contracts with the government. Although the contracts were awarded before Iswaran became transport minister in 2021, the indictments said he was aware of Lum’s business dealings with his ministry.

The Public Prosecution Chamber said it would decide whether to charge Ong and Lum after the case against Iswaran is concluded, based on evidence presented in court.

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