First Singaporean minister loses job over corruption allegations

Singapore's Transport Minister S. Iswaran resigned while being investigated for allegedly receiving bribes from a real estate billionaire in the country.

Singapore's Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said today that Mr Iswaran, who was arrested last July and later released on bail, received more than S$384,000 ($286,181) from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng to facilitate Ong's business activities.

Billionaire Ong also gave Iswaran many other benefits such as football and musical tickets, use of the businessman's private jet and tickets to the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix.

According to CPIB, the misconduct dates back to 2015. The agency said Mr Iswaran faces 27 charges, including corruption and obstruction of justice. If convicted of corruption, he could be fined up to S$100,000 ($74,000) or face up to seven years in prison.

Appearing in court on January 18, Mr. Iswaran pleaded not guilty. The office of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong later released a resignation letter dated January 16 from Mr. Iswaran, in which he denied the allegations and said he would "focus on proving his innocence."

He also pledged to return part of the salary and allowances he received since his arrest.

Mr. S. Iswaran (left) leaves court in Singapore on January 18. Photo: AFP — Mr. S. Iswaran (left) leaves court in Singapore on January 18. Photo: *AFP*

Property tycoon Ong’s office was not immediately available for comment. The businessman was arrested on the same day as Mr Iswaran in a corruption investigation, but has not been charged.

Iswaran, 61, joined Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's cabinet in 2006 and became transport minister in May 2021. Iswaran became the highest-ranking official in Singapore to be accused of corruption and the first minister to lose his job over suspicions of involvement in such conduct.

The incident has shocked Singapore, a major Asian financial hub and considered one of the world's least corrupt countries. Here, civil servants are paid high salaries to prevent corruption, with many ministers' annual salaries exceeding SGD 1 million (US$ 755,000).

In 2022, Transparency International ranked Singapore fifth in terms of corruption, out of 180 countries.

The last corruption case involving a minister in Singapore occurred in 1986, when the minister for national development was investigated. However, the official died before he could stand trial.

Mentioning Iswaran's case at a People's Action Party (PAP) event last November, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the party must "show Singaporeans and the world that after half a century of leadership, the PAP's standards remain as high as ever".

Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is expected to succeed Lee Hsien Loong, told local media that the PAP's anti-corruption stance was "uncompromising".

“This is part of our DNA. There can be no compromise, relaxation or perfunctoriness on this issue, no matter the political cost,” Mr Wong said.

Huyen Le (According to Reuters , AFP )

Source link