Singapore’s Former Transport Minister Sentenced to Prison for Bribery

S. Iswaran arrives for sentencing at the Supreme Court in Singapore on Oct. 3, 2024.

S. Iswaran, the former transport minister of Singapore, was sentenced to a year in prison on Thursday for bribery and obstruction of justice. The judge imposed a sentence longer than the prosecution requested, emphasizing Singapore’s commitment to clean governance.

“Trust and confidence in public institutions are the bedrock of effective governance,” Justice Vincent Hoong stated. “This can all too easily be undermined by the appearance that an individual public servant has fallen below the standards of integrity and accountability.”

Iswaran’s sentencing marks the first time a former Singaporean minister has received a prison sentence since 1975. Last week, the former minister unexpectedly pleaded guilty to four charges related to obtaining valuable items as a public servant and one count of obstruction of justice. He had initially vowed to defend himself against over three dozen charges, including corruption, but the prosecution amended the charges on the first day of the trial.

The swift conclusion to a trial that was initially expected to last for months could potentially quell a scandal that has tarnished Singapore’s reputation for clean governance since it came to light last year. It also allows Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who assumed office in May, to lead the ruling People’s Action Party into the next general election, which must be held by November 2025.

“The sentence underscores the court’s strong stance against any corruption-type offense,” commented Eugene Tan, a law professor at Singapore Management University. “There is no doubt that the court placed a premium on maintaining the integrity of the public sector.” 

Justice Hoong granted a request for the 62-year-old Iswaran to begin his prison sentence on October 7th. It’s possible Iswaran may appeal the sentence, as his defense lawyer mentioned that his surrender is subject to any potential applications. 

Prosecutors had sought a seven-month jail term, while Iswaran’s defense lawyers argued for a maximum of eight weeks. Justice Hoong asserted that Iswaran’s contributions to public service and Singapore were, at best, a neutral factor in determining the sentence.

Since the beginning of this year, Iswaran faced 35 charges related to corruption. He was accused of receiving over S$403,000 ($313,000) in luxury goods, including tickets to musicals and soccer matches in the U.K. Most of the court charges involved Iswaran’s interactions with tycoon Ong Beng Seng, who owns the rights to the Singapore Grand Prix and is chairman of Singapore GP Pte Ltd, the race promoter.

Ong’s spokesperson declined to comment. The property mogul has not been charged, and the Attorney-General’s Chambers stated they will make a decision about him soon.

Among the amended charges, Iswaran admitted to obtaining tickets for the Singapore F1 Grand Prix in 2022, a night’s stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Doha, and flights, including a private jet trip to Qatar. As part of the plea deal, Iswaran returned over S$380,000, and gifts were forfeited to the state.

Justice Hoong stated that Iswaran “abused his position” by accepting gifts from Ong.

Iswaran, known for bringing F1 racing to Singapore, is the first minister to be implicated in a corruption investigation since 1986 when Teh Cheang Wan, the then-Minister for National Development, was investigated for accepting bribes. Teh denied receiving the money and died before he could be formally charged. 

The last instance of a former minister from the ruling party being sentenced to jail in Singapore was in 1975. Wee Toon Boon, the then-Minister of State for Environment, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for accepting a two-story house and land.