Fresh allegations have been leveled in Singapore's first ministerial corruption case, which said that a contractor with ties to the government had provided a former transport minister with alcoholic beverages, golf equipment, and a high-end Brompton bicycle.
Singapore's First Ministerial Corruption Case
On Monday, March 25, S. Iswaran entered not guilty pleas to eight more counts, bringing his total to 35.
Iswaran pleaded not guilty to obtaining ten bottles of whiskey, 12 bottles of wine, and other goods from Lum Kok Seng between November 2021 and November 2022.
The combined value of the products was close to 19,000 Singaporean dollars (about $14,000), according to CNBC.
Government contracts have been awarded to Lum Chang Building Contractors, a subsidiary of Lum Chang Holdings, which is managed by Lum Kok Seng.
The charge papers claimed that Iswaran knew about Lum's commercial connections with his ministry, even though the contracts were issued before he became the transport minister in 2021.
Iswaran Accused of Receiving Almost SG$385,000
Iswaran is a former prominent leader in the long-ruling People's Action Party. Just before he was accused, he resigned in January.
According to The Associated Press, he was first brought before the court on two counts of corruption, 24 counts of accepting gifts while serving in the public sector, and one count of impeding the administration of justice.
During his first court appearance, it was said that he had received products valued at almost 385,000 Singaporean dollars ($286,000) from Ong Beng Seng, a property mogul from Malaysia, between 2015 and 2022. Part of this sum was allegedly in exchange for his assistance advancing Seng's commercial interests in Singapore.
Free tickets to the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Singapore, as well as football events and musical plays in the United Kingdom, were among the gifts. Iswaran served as both chairman and advisor to the Grand Prix's steering committee, while Ong controls the rights to the local F1 event.
Iswaran's indictment is a stain on the governing party of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, which takes great pleasure in its pristine reputation.
Lee has promised to keep his government's image of integrity and honesty and has said that the legal process in Iswaran's case has been diligently followed.
Join the Conversation