12-8-2024 (SINGAPORE) The high-profile corruption trial of former Singapore Transport Minister S Iswaran has been rescheduled to commence on 10 September, as confirmed by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) in a statement released on Monday.
The AGC spokesperson revealed that the original trial dates, which were set to begin on 13 August, “have been vacated on defence counsel’s request”. The first tranche of the trial is now slated to run from 10 September to 13 September this year.
Iswaran, 62, is being represented by a formidable legal team led by Senior Counsel Davinder Singh. The former minister’s last appearance in open court was in July, where he unsuccessfully sought to compel the prosecution to make all statements by prosecution witnesses available to the defence.
In an unusual move for corruption cases, which are typically heard in the State Courts, the prosecution successfully applied in March for this high-profile case to be heard in the High Court, underscoring its significance.
The Singaporean ex-minister faces a staggering 35 charges, including 32 counts of obtaining valuables as a public servant, two counts of corruption, and one count of obstructing justice. These charges stem from his interactions with property magnate Ong Beng Seng and Lum Kok Seng, the managing director of Singapore-listed Lum Chang Holdings.
When approached for comment on the new trial dates, Iswaran’s defence team remained silent, adding an air of anticipation to the upcoming proceedings.
The gravity of the charges against Iswaran is reflected in the potential penalties he faces if convicted. For obtaining a valuable thing as a public servant, he could be sentenced to up to two years in prison, fined, or both. The corruption charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act carry even stiffer penalties, with a possible jail term of up to seven years, a fine of up to S$100,000, or both. The charge of obstructing justice also carries a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
