Transport Minister S. Iswaran will remain in Singapore during his leave of absence, said the Prime Minister's Office. - ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): Transport Minister S. Iswaran was arrested on Tuesday and released on bail, and has had his passport impounded, said the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) on Friday night.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, a CPIB spokesman said Mr Iswaran was arrested on the same day as Mr Ong Beng Seng, founder and managing director of Hotel Properties Limited.
Ong was also released on bail.
CPIB had said on Wednesday that Iswaran was assisting the bureau with an investigation into a case it had uncovered.
The same day, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he had instructed Mr Iswaran to take leave of absence until the investigation is completed.
The Prime Minister’s Office said on Thursday that Iswaran will remain in Singapore during his leave of absence and that he will have no access to any official resources and government buildings.
On Friday, the CPIB spokesman said: “As part of bail conditions, subjects’ passports are impounded. Subjects on bail can, however, make requests to travel overseas. CPIB will assess such requests on a case-by-case basis.
“CPIB assessed and acceded to Ong’s request to travel overseas. Ong’s bail quantum was also increased to $100,000. Upon his return, Ong is required to report to CPIB and surrender his passport to the bureau.”
The spokesman declined to provide further details, citing ongoing investigations.
Hotel Properties said in a statement to the Singapore Exchange on Friday that Ong is cooperating with CPIB to provide information in relation to his interactions with Mr Iswaran, and has been issued a notice of arrest.
It added that Ong, 77, is travelling from that day and will be surrendering his passport to CPIB upon his return to Singapore. It also said he has posted bail of $100,000, and that no charges have been filed against him. - The Straits Times/ANN
