Singapore's disgraced former transport minister jailed for 12 months in landmark case

SINGAPORE - A Singapore court on Thursday sentenced a former minister to 12 months in prison for obstructing justice and receiving more than $300,000 worth of gifts, in the first jailing of a former cabinet member in a city-state famous for its clean governance.

S. Iswaran, who was a cabinet member for 13 years and has held the trade, communications and transport portfolios, pleaded guilty last week to four counts of improperly receiving gifts and one of obstructing justice.

In a statement posted on the prime minister's office website, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said he was disappointed and saddened by the case. He said that while it was painful to act against a colleague and a friend, "it is our duty to do so when necessary".

"Our system of government and politics must always stay clean and free from corruption," said Wong, who took over as Singapore's fourth premier in May this year.

Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, who gave Iswaran tickets to English Premier League soccer matches, the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, London musicals and a ride on a private jet among other favours, will be charged in court on Friday, according to a court hearing list.

Iswaran was an adviser to the Singapore Grand Prix's steering committee, while Ong, 78, owns the rights to the race.

The sentence handed down was more severe than the six to seven months sought by the prosecution, which presiding judge Vincent Hoong said was "manifestly inadequate" given the gravity of Iswaran's offences and their impact on public trust.

"Trust and confidence in public institutions were the bedrock of effective governance, which could all too easily be undermined by the appearance that an individual public servant had fallen below the standards of integrity and accountability," he said in sentencing Iswaran.

The case has shocked Singapore, which prides itself on its well-paid and efficient bureaucracy as well as strong and squeaky-clean governance. It was among the world's top five least corrupt countries last year, according to Transparency International's corruption perception index.

PM Wong said: "However stringently we act against corruption, from time to time some individuals will be tempted and will go astray. In Singapore, they must expect their actions sooner or later to come to light, whereupon they will be held to account."

EXPENSIVE GIFTS

The last corruption case involving a Singaporean minister was in 1986, when its national development minister was investigated for alleged bribery but died before charges were filed in court.

The Iswaran investigation caused a stir in the Asian financial hub and centred on allegations that while he was transport minister he accepted expensive gifts from two businessmen that he had official dealings with.

According to the prosecution the value of the gifts Iswaran received totalled more than S$400,000 ($308,500).

Iswaran, 62, faced a huge media scrum as he arrived in court and declined to answer questions when he left. He showed no emotion during the court session.

The judge allowed him to remain on bail for the next few days and begin his jail term on Monday.

Iswaran had initially said he was innocent and would fight to clear his name but pleaded guilty last week to the five charges put before the court.

The former minister faced a total of 35 charges, two of which were corruption-related but were later amended to charges of receiving gifts while a public servant.

Iswaran was arrested in July last year.

($1 = 1.2966 Singapore dollars)

-(Reuters)