24-9-2024 (SINGAPORE) Former transport minister S Iswaran pleaded guilty on Tuesday to five charges, including four under Section 165 of the Penal Code and one for obstruction of justice. This plea comes after the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) made last-minute amendments to two corruption charges, citing potential difficulties in proving these allegations beyond reasonable doubt.
The case, which has captivated the city-state, took an unexpected turn when the AGC decided to amend two corruption charges linked to gifts from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng. These were changed to offences under Section 165, which prohibits public servants from obtaining valuable items from individuals involved with them in an official capacity.
An AGC spokesperson explained the rationale behind this decision, stating, “AGC considered the litigation risks involved in proving the Prevention of Corruption Act charges beyond a reasonable doubt at trial, given that there are two primary parties to the transactions, and both would have an interest in denying corruption in the transactions.” This statement highlights the complex nature of corruption cases, where often the only witnesses are the parties involved, who may be reluctant to implicate themselves.
The amended charges detail Iswaran’s acceptance of various gifts from Ong, including tickets to the 2022 Singapore F1 Grand Prix and a luxury trip to Qatar. These gifts were allegedly received “for no consideration” while Iswaran was aware of Ong’s business interests related to the F1 event in Singapore.
Notably, the penalties for offences under Section 165 are less severe than those for corruption, carrying a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment compared to seven years for corruption charges. This amendment has sparked discussions about the balance between securing a conviction and pursuing more serious charges.
The case has also raised questions about the fate of Ong Beng Seng, who has been named in most of the charges against Iswaran but has not been prosecuted to date. The AGC has stated that a decision regarding Ong will be made “soon”, following the completion of Iswaran’s case.
During the court proceedings, Iswaran’s lead counsel, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, argued for a sentence of no more than eight weeks’ imprisonment. In contrast, Deputy Attorney-General Tai Wei Shyong, also a Senior Counsel, sought a term of six to seven months. The disparity in these recommendations underscores the complexity of sentencing in such high-profile cases involving public officials.
The guilty plea and upcoming sentencing, scheduled for October 3, mark a significant moment in Singapore’s ongoing efforts to maintain its reputation for clean governance.
