KUALA LUMPUR – Singapore’s Transport Minister S. Iswaran has been hauled to the neighbouring country’s state court this morning, where he was charged with 27 counts of offence.
Channel News Asia reported that Iswaran, 61, was charged this morning with 24 counts of receiving bribes as a civil servant, one count of obstructing justice and two counts of corruption. He, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau has been investigating Iswaran and property tycoon Ong Beng Seng since July last year. At that time, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong barred the minister from leaving the country and placed him on leave of absence.
Despite being put on leave of absence with pay cuts, Iswaran was still allowed to withdraw a full amount of SG$192,500 (RM676,000) of MP annual allowances.
Iswaran, who is also trade relations’ minister-in-charge had joined the cabinet as Lee’s junior minister in 2006, where he held trade and communications portfolios before becoming transport minister in May 2021.
Reuters reported that the case has gripped Singapore as it is globally known as a top Asian financial hub that prides itself on clean governance, where civil servants in the country are highly paid to discourage corruption, with many cabinet ministers’ annual salaries exceeding SG$1 million (RM3.51 million).
Following today’s charges, Channel News Asia reported that Iswaran had stepped down from his positions as minister, MP for the West Coast Group Representation Constituency, and People’s Action Party (PAP) member.
The state media quoted Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s statement, which says Iswaran’s resignation came after the CIPB handed him formal notice of the charge on Tuesday (January 16).
The PAP secretary-general accepted Iswaran’s resignation.
Lee also said yesterday that Iswaran had informed him that he would be returning all monies received as minister and MP’s allowance during the CIPB’s investigation period until the day of his charge.
Therefore, acting transport minister Chee Hong Tat will replace Iswaran as transport minister and second finance minister, while Grace Fu, who is the sustainability and environment minister, will concurrently resume responsibility as trade relations’ minister-in-charge. – January 18, 2024