Facing the law: Iswaran arriving at the Supreme Court in Singapore. Iswaran was earlier this year hit with 35 charges mostly related to graft in a nation often cited as one of the world’s least corrupt. — Reuters
Former transport minister S. Iswaran pleaded guilty on Sept 24, on what was supposed to be the first day of his scheduled trial.
Iswaran, 62, is now convicted of five charges, and the prosecution is seeking a jail term of six to seven months.
He is expected to be sentenced on Oct 3.
Iswaran, known for helping bring Formula 1 to the financial hub, was earlier this year hit with 35 charges mostly related to graft in a nation often cited as one of the world’s least corrupt.
But proceedings at the Supreme Court were adjourned and prosecutors moved forward with five lesser charges.
Four of these charges are for obtaining, as a public servant, valuable items from Formula One race promoter Singapore GP’s chairman Ong Beng Seng and David Lum, managing director of mainboard-listed construction company Lum Chang Holdings.
Iswaran also admitted to one charge of obstructing the course of justice.
“I plead guilty,” he reportedly said after the more severe corruption charges were set aside on the first day of the ongoing trial.
The obstruction charge relates to the S$5,700 he repaid to Singapore GP for the cost of his business-class flight from Doha to Singapore that he took in 2022, at Ong’s expense through the company.
Iswaran has paid back S$380,000 to the state and will forfeit the items he received.
Deputy Attorney-General Tai Wei Shyong then read out the statement of facts. He said that on Dec 6, 2022, Ong asked Iswaran if he would like to join him on a trip to Qatar.
Ong told Iswaran he would be travelling on his private jet, and the former minister would be going as his guest.
The billionaire hotelier added that he would take care of all of Iswaran’s expenses, including hotel accommodation.
Iswaran accepted the invitation and applied for urgent personal leave.
He told Ong he needed to be back in Singapore by Dec 11, 2022, and Ong arranged for him to fly back on a commercial flight.
Iswaran travelled to Doha on a private jet, and the value of the flight was over S$10,000, said the prosecutor.
Upon reaching Doha, Iswaran checked into Four Seasons Hotel, and the value of one night at the hotel was over S$4,000.
His hotel accommodation was paid for by Singapore GP on Ong’s instructions.
He then flew back to Singapore on a business class flight that cost S$5,700.
In May 2023, Iswaran issued a cheque for S$5,700 to Singapore GP for the flight, knowing that it was likely to obstruct the course of justice, said the prosecutor.
The court heard that in one of his Section 165 charges, Iswaran informed Singapore GP deputy chairman Colin Syn that he required 10 Green Room tickets for the Singapore F1 Grand Prix in 2017. Each Green Room ticket is worth over S$4,000.
Iswaran then gave these tickets to his friends and family to attend the race without paying for the tickets.
He did not declare to the government that he had obtained these 10 tickets.
Iswaran also accepted a Brompton T Line bicycle worth more than S$7,900 from Lum.
Lum suggested that he would buy a foldable bike for Iswaran’s 60th birthday.
Iswaran received the bicycle and did not declare the gift to the government.
Iswaran asked Lum to help him source for whisky and red wine after sending him a screenshot of a bottle of Gordon & MacPhail Caol Ila whisky.
Eventually, Lum arranged for 14 bottles of alcohol to be delivered to Iswaran, who did not declare them to the government.
The prosecution said Iswaran knew at the time that Lum was involved in an MRT contract between Lum Chang Building Contractors and the Land Transport Authority, and this was connected to Iswaran’s position as minister for transport.
In his submissions, Tai said Iswaran’s acts had a significant impact on the government’s reputation as he was a minister for 12 years.
“The fact that he was a minister of such seniority and standing would have amplified the impact of (his) behaviour,” said the prosecutor.
Tai said the question is whether Iswaran, in relation to the Section 165 offences, was a passive acceptor of gifts given to him or whether he played an active role in obtaining the gifts.
“The more active the role, the more (Iswaran) can be said to be leveraging on his position as a public servant. In this case, the facts show that (he) was more than a passive acceptor of the gifts in question,” said the prosecutor.
In mitigation, Iswaran’s lawyer, Davinder Singh, sought not more than eight weeks’ jail for his client.
He said Iswaran has recognised that he was wrong to have accepted the items from Ong and Lum.
“When he was first interviewed by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, he readily and truthfully disclosed the gifts that he was asked about.
“He fully disclosed the items were given in context of his friendship with Mr Ong and Mr Lum,” said Singh.
He added that although Iswaran was unaware of Section 165 at the time of offending, his client fully understands that ignorance of the law is no excuse.
However, he noted that Iswaran did not do anything to disadvantage the government, and there was nothing to suggest that his loyalty and duties to the government were compromised.
On the charge relating to Iswaran taking the trip to Doha on Ong’s private jet, Singh said the chairman of the World Cup had invited Ong to watch the Finals in 2022, and Iswaran was invited on the trip.
Iswaran had considered the trip as an opportunity to learn how a city like Doha staged and organised a world event, Singh said.
Ong had already made arrangements for the private jet, he added.
“Therefore, there was no loss, in so far as the private jet was concerned. That cost would have been incurred, regardless, whether Iswaran had occupied that seat,” he said.
After several hours of the prosecution and defence making their submissions to the court, Justice Vincent Hoong thanked the lawyers and adjourned the case to Oct 3.
After the hearing, Iswaran left the High Court alone and spoke to reporters outside the building.
He said: “As you know, my lawyers have stated the position clearly, and as you’re well aware, the matter is now subjudice so it’s not appropriate for me to say anything more.
“I just want to thank all of you for coming and let’s see how it goes.”
Iswaran is standing in a trial deemed by observers to be one of the most politically significant in the city-state’s history.
It also risks damaging the reputation of the ruling People’s Action Party before general elections expected to be held by November next year.
After Iswaran’s resignation, the government said it would review the terms of its Formula One Grand Prix deal. — Agencies
