Iswaran faces 8 new charges over obtaining $19k in items including Brompton bike, golf clubs
SINGAPORE – Former transport minister S. Iswaran was handed eight new charges in court on March 25.
These are under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which makes it an offence for public servants to accept gifts from someone involved with them in an official capacity.
When asked by District Judge Brenda Tan, Iswaran – who now faces 35 charges in total – said he pleaded not guilty to the additional charges.
On March 25, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said in a statement that Iswaran had allegedly obtained, as a public servant, valuables with a total value of about $18,956.94from a Lum Kok Seng.
Iswaran had allegedly known him to be involved in business that had a connection with his official function as minister for transport.
These alleged offences were committed between November 2021 and November 2022.
The business transacted involved a contract between Lum Chang Building Contractors and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for addition and alteration works to Tanah Merah MRT station and existing viaducts.
The website of Lum Chang, a property management, interior design and construction firm, lists Mr Lum as its managing director.
The firm’s construction arm, Lum Chang Building Contractors, has taken on multibillion-dollar civil, building and infrastructural projects in Singapore, including being the main contractor for Bukit Panjang MRT station along the Downtown Line.
An LTA spokesperson said on March 25 that the statutory board has two ongoing projects with Lum Chang Building Contractors, including the one at Tanah Merah station that was awarded in October 2016.
The other one is the construction of the North-South Corridor tunnel between Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 and Avenue 9 that was awarded in December 2018.
“LTA has not awarded any contract to Lum Chang Building Contractors since 2019,” the spokesperson added.
An Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) spokesperson said it will take a decision in respect of the investigations against Mr Lum after the case against Iswaran has been completed, including the presentation of evidence in court.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, a Lum Chang spokesperson pointed to a statement by its board of directors issued to employees on March 25.
The statement said the board is aware that Mr Lum and Lum Chang Building Contractors were mentioned in media reports involving Iswaran and will make an announcement when there are material developments in the case.
Iswaran arrived in court on March 25 at about 8.20am with members of his legal team from Davinder Singh Chambers.
Speaking to the media gathered outside the court, he said: “Sorry you all had to get up so early this morning.”
As he walked towards the court trailed by members of the media, one of them tripped and fell. Iswaran helped him pick up his belongings.
Chief Prosecutor Tan Kiat Pheng told the court that the purpose of the March 25 hearing was to tender eight additional charges against Iswaran and transmit the new charges to the High Court.
Mr Navin Shanmugaraj Thevar, one of Iswaran’s lawyers, questioned why the new charges were tendered only now, and if the prosecution intended to file more charges against his client.
“The eight new charges today were not part of the 36 (cautioned statements),” the defence lawyer added.
A cautioned statement sets out a notice for an accused person to provide his defence in response to an offence he is being charged with.
Mr Thevar added that the eight new charges related to matters that the CPIB had questioned Iswaran over in July and August 2023.
He said: “On March 16, three days before the criminal case disclosure conference (CCDC) at the High Court, CPIB called my client in and he was served eight new charges.”
During a CCDC, the prosecution and the defence disclose information about the case to facilitate the trial process.
Mr Thevar added: “When Mr Iswaran asked CPIB when the charges would be brought in court, he was told a decision had not been made.”
Chief Prosecutor Tan said in response that all charges tendered against Iswaran were based on evidence uncovered by CPIB and they had been reviewed by the AGC.
Iswaran allowed to leave S’pore to help son settle in at Australia uni; case transferred to High Court
SINGAPORE - Former transport minister S. Iswaran has been granted permission to leave Singapore to settle his son into university in Australia, three weeks after he was handed 27 charges, which he pleaded not guilty to.
On Feb 8, Iswaran, who is out on $800,000 bail, turned up at the State Courts at around 2.30pm to make an application to leave jurisdiction from Feb 16 to March 4.
The prosecution imposed several conditions to this application, including a cash bail of $500,000. Iswaran must also provide his itinerary and his address overseas to the investigation officer (IO) and remain contactable by the IO.
He must also surrender his travel documents within 24 hours of his return to Singapore.
Iswaran’s bailor, who was identified in court as Mr Ng, agreed to those conditions before the judge.
When The Straits Times approached him after the hearing to ask what his relation to Iswaran is, Mr Ng did not respond and walked away.
Iswaran’s case will also be transferred to the High Court, with the prosecution saying this was due to the strong public interest in this case.
Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jiang Ke-Yue and Deputy Public Prosecutor Kelvin Chong did not elaborate on this. Chief Prosecutor Tan Kiat Pheng, who leads the prosecution team in this case, was not present in court.
Senior Counsel Davinder Singh from Davinder Singh Chambers, who is leading the defence team for Iswaran, was also not in court.
Defence lawyer Navin Shanmugaraj Thevar requested an early trial for his client so the “evidence can be fully aired and the matter decided as soon as possible”.
Mr Thevar said he wrote to the prosecution in January to indicate Iswaran’s request for an early trial, and agreed that this matter should be heard in the High Court.
The defence lawyer then sought the prosecution’s agreement to an early trial, adding that this should be possible, as the authorities have “had a long time to investigate this matter”.
In response, Mr Jiang said the judge’s schedule in the High Court should be taken into consideration for this, and that this matter can be addressed when a case conference is called.
All 27 charges Iswaran faces were re-read to him on Feb 8, as required when a case is transferred to the High Court.
A criminal case disclosure conference for the case will be held in the High Court on March 22.
Iswaran is accused of 24 counts of obtaining, as a minister, items with a total value of more than $200,000 from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng. Mr Ong is the man who brought Formula One to Singapore in 2008.
These items include tickets to the Singapore Grand Prix (GP), football matches in Britain and musicals.
Several of the charges were related to alleged incidents that happened between 2015 and 2021, and involved him allegedly obtaining tickets to a football match between West Ham United and Everton and to shows such as Harry Potter And The Cursed Child.
He also faces a charge of obstructing the course of justice on or about May 25, 2023.
According to court documents, he had allegedly made repayment of $5,700 – the cost of his business class flight ticket from Doha to Singapore that he had taken on Dec 11, 2022, at Mr Ong’s expense – through Singapore GP.
Aiyah have no fear, he will surely return to SG. After all, it was he himself who insisted so ever vehemently he's innocent, absconding while on bail would therefore cement his guilt 100%. I doubt he would be that foolhardy.
Singapore Minister’s Legal Woes Sink Storied Political Career
S. Iswaran, the Singapore transport minister who resigned after facing graft charges, was in public service for more than a quarter of a century. It took just months for his storied career to unravel.
The 61-year-old Iswaran — who helped bring Formula 1 racing to Singapore and represented the city-state at the World Economic Forum — was charged Thursday with two counts of corruption, 24 counts of obtaining “valuable things” from someone he had business dealings with as a public servant, and one for obstructing justice.
He said he’s innocent. He tendered his resignation earlier this week to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who accepted it on Wednesday.
“I reject the allegations in the charges and will now focus on clearing my name,” Iswaran said in a letter to Lee on Jan. 16.
“Given the circumstances, I feel it is right for me to resign from Cabinet, as a member of parliament and as a member” of the ruling People’s Action Party, he said.
Iswaran’s resignation is the end of a high-flying government career that had seen him in leadership positions in at least five ministries, including key ones such as trade, a sector vital to the city-state’s survival.
His downfall marks a low point for Singapore, which prides itself on a reputation for clean governance and business-friendly policies. The People’s Action Party, whose distinct white uniforms are meant to signify its politicians’ incorruptibility, has ruled the island since the country’s independence in 1965.
“I am disappointed and saddened that you are leaving politics in these circumstances,” Lee wrote in reply to Iswaran. “But it is essential that I deal with such matters rigorously in accordance with the law. It is the right thing to do.”
Iswaran had held the role of transport minister since May 2021, and was concurrently the minister-in-charge of trade relations, representing Singapore at global meetings such as the WEF in Davos and those by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
Tasked by Lee for almost a decade to deliver the annual National Day speech in Tamil — one of Singapore’s four official languages — it was the premier himself who announced in July the anti-corruption agency’s probe into Iswaran. Lee later said Iswaran had been blocked from access to official resources and government buildings, the same corridors he had roamed since first winning a seat in parliament in 1997.
Tough Times
The Iswaran scandal is taking place at a particularly sensitive time, with the country preparing for a leadership change this year when Lee is expected to hand power over to his deputy, Lawrence Wong.
Iswaran’s arrest in July 2023 added to a difficult few months for the PAP, with voters’ trust already shaken by the poor optics of two ministers renting state-owned colonial mansions. They were later cleared of wrongdoing in a government review. In mid-July, speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin — once seen by observers as a prime ministerial candidate — resigned after an extramarital affair with a fellow lawmaker.
Singapore’s ministers are among the world’s best-paid, earning about S$1.1 million ($820,000) a year, according to the Public Service Division. The city-state is ranked as the fifth-least corrupt country in the world, according to the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, trailing Denmark, Finland, New Zealand and Norway.
Iswaran was alleged to have improperly obtained tickets to watch musicals and soccer matches in the UK over a period of years from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng. Iswaran was also charged with obtaining dozens of tickets to the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix race over several years from Ong.
A spokesman for Ong declined to comment about the case.
Career Journey
Iswaran started his public service journey in 1987 in the home affairs and education ministries before he was seconded to the National Trades Union Congress, an umbrella labor movement with ties to the government. He was the first chief executive officer of the Singapore Indian Development Association, a government-approved body aimed at boosting the socio-economic status of the local Indian community.
He was director for international trade in the lead up to Singapore’s hosting of the World Trade Organization’s Ministerial Conference in 1996. Later, he was managing director at state-owned investor Temasek Holdings, where he carried out investment, takeover, buy-out and merger transactions in the pharmaceuticals, biotech, high-tech manufacturing, transport and logistics sectors.
Iswaran’s working relationship with Ong predated the 2008 arrival of F1’s night race in Singapore. When he was managing director at Temasek in the early 2000s, the state investor backed Ong’s bid for NatSteel Ltd., Singapore’s biggest steelmaker.
The tycoon won control of the steelmaker in 2003 through one of his entities known as 98 Holdings Ltd., which listed Iswaran as a director on behalf of Temasek. The state investor unloaded its stake in Ong’s firm in 2004. In 2022, a consortium led by Ong, together with units of Temasek, acquired a media and property company in the city-state.
Easy Camaraderie
Iswaran boasted an easy camaraderie publicly with legislative and ministerial colleagues. He was often seen chatting with peers as they left the parliament floor, where he has a seat in the front row as a minister.
As is typical with many Singapore politicians, Iswaran’s family is rarely in the limelight. He met his wife when they were both in their late teens and studying at the University of Adelaide, she said in an interview with India Se magazine in 2019. He read economics there, and later earned a masters in public administration from Harvard University.
His wife is listed as chairwoman of a non-profit organization which helps students from low-income families when there is a crisis. They have three children who are now around their early 20s, according to the 2019 interview.
His Instagram feed over eight years featured mainly his interactions with constituents on his walkabouts and at community events, cycling around the island, hosting visiting politicians from overseas and his travels for work. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made some appearances, as did other politicians from the South Asian country. One post was a picture of Iswaran, his son and soccer star David Beckham.
Famous Friends
In the early months of Covid-19, Iswaran reached out to Indian celebrities including actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and musician A.R. Rahman to send messages of support to the local migrant worker community who weren’t allowed to leave their dorms.
The transport portfolio he oversaw is one of the most challenging in the Cabinet. The ills of subway breakdowns, a shortage of taxis or complaints about ride-hailing platforms and high car prices are shared on social media quickly and widely, with blame directed at the government.
In announcing a 2021 Cabinet reshuffle, Lee praised Iswaran’s work in his prior role as communications and information minister, saying he had “helped us understand and respond to citizens’ views and concerns.”
Iswaran made reviving aviation a priority after the pandemic devastated the travel industry. The national carrier had cut thousands of jobs during Covid-19 and was forced to raise billions of dollars to survive.
As the nation gradually reopened its borders and allowed more freedoms domestically with the easing of the pandemic, Iswaran said in January 2022 that Singapore would continue to host the F1 race for another seven years after “thoroughly evaluating the long term benefits that a term extension could bring.”
Lee wrote to Iswaran on Wednesday that the integrity of the ruling party and government must be upheld.
I just noticed Iswaran's baldpate is pretty dull, unlike Tharman's shiny masterpiece. Perhaps this explains why lady luck hasn't smiled much on him of late.
Aiyah he's being defended by none other than THE Davinder Singh wor, as such I'd reckon his chances of being fully acquitted still remain pretty high 🤞
CPIB completes investigation on Iswaran, case pending AGC review
The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau's (CPIB) investigation into Minister for Transport S. Iswaran has been completed and is currently being reviewed by the Attorney-General's Chambers, said Minister Chan Chun Sing, on behalf of the Prime Minister.
In a written response to Progress Singapore Party's Hazel Poa's parliamentary question asking for an update on the CPIB's investigation of Iswaran, Chan said that he understands there is much public interest in the matter.
"I want to give my assurance that this case will be put through the due legal process," he added, stating that the CPIB has completed a "robust and thorough investigation".
"The matter is currently being reviewed by the Attorney-General's Chambers. It would, therefore, not be appropriate to comment on the matter at this juncture," he added.
CPIB investigating Iswaran since May 2023
CPIB came across information on Iswaran during another investigation.
This started a quiet investigation in May 2023, and PM Lee was alerted to it on May 29, 2023.
On Jul. 5, CPIB told PM Lee that they had attained adequate information to launch a formal investigation into Iswaran. PM Lee gave the director of CPIB his concurrence to launch a formal investigation.
Iswaran was subsequently arrested by CPIB on Jul. 11 and released on bail.
He was arrested on the same day as billionaire hotelier Ong Beng Seng.
PM Lee instructed Iswaran to take a leave of absence until CPIB's investigations are completed.
Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat is currently the Acting Minister for Transport.
PM Lee said that Iswaran does not have access to any official resources and government buildings during his leave of absence.
He is also to remain in Singapore while investigations are ongoing.
CPIB stated that it is unable to provide further details about the case while investigations are ongoing.
I dare say he will come away largely unscathed - if anything he would be slapped with a customary fine at most. It's no secret the PAP desperately wants, or rather needs to leverage his sprawling business network, not least his ownership to the F1 rights in SG. When one gets "arrested" and yet the authorities still gives him free rein to do as he so damn pleases, you should know very well he's going to have the very last laugh.
He's under investigation and hasn't yet been slapped with any charges, so I guess he gets to "remain" as part of the West Coast team....for now that is
CPIB didn't announce Iswaran's arrest initially as it wanted to establish more facts, hear his side: Chan Chun Sing
• CPIB did not announce that Mr S Iswaran had been arrested as it wanted to first establish more facts of the case, said Mr Chan Chun Sing
• He also said that law enforcement agencies including CPIB, usually do not disclose the names of persons who are being investigated
• However, CPIB decided to disclose that Mr Iswaran was assisting CPIB with investigations as the case involved a Minister
• Mr Chan also clarified that CPIB is functionally independent and does not require the Prime Minister’s concurrence to conduct investigations
• He added that if the PM were to the object, the director of CPIB can go directly to the President for her or her concurrence to proceed with a CPIB investigation.
SINGAPORE — When the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) first disclosed that Transport Minister S Iswaran was assisting with investigations, it did not state that he had been arrested as it wanted to first establish more facts of the case, as well as hear his side of the story, said Minister-in-charge of the Public Service, Mr Chan Chun Sing on Wednesday (Aug 2).
CPIB had announced on July 12 that Mr Iswaran was assisting with investigations but only announced two days later that Mr Iswaran and Hotel Properties Limited managing director Ong Beng Seng had been arrested by the CPIB on July 11.
Addressing questions from several Members of Parliament (MP) in Parliament, Mr Chan, added that law enforcement agencies including CPIB, usually do not disclose the names of persons who are being investigated or arrested as there are “good reasons”.
“Say someone has been picked up, arrested, and investigations are ongoing. If it is immediately announced that the person has been arrested and is being investigated, it may prejudice the person,” said Mr Chan, who is also Education Minister.
He said that this will create an impression that the person has done wrong, even if subsequent investigations do not result in any charges brought against him.
“Thus, to be fair to the persons involved, law enforcement agencies generally refrain from immediately naming the persons being investigated,” he said.
For the present case however, CPIB decided to disclose on July 12 that Mr Iswaran was assisting CPIB with investigations as it involved a Minister, said Mr Chan.
CPIB DOES NOT REQUIRE PM'S CONCURRENCE TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS
On CPIB's investigations, Non-constituency MP from Progress Singapore Party’s Leong Mun Wai and Workers’ Party MP Louis Chua asked whether all of its investigations require the Prime Minister’s (PM) concurrence and if the bureau is obliged to seek his concurrence to open formal investigations for potential offences it has uncovered.
To this, Mr Chan said that although the bureau reports directly to the PM, it is “functionally independent” and does not require the PM’s concurrence to conduct its investigations.
“In this case, it kept the Prime Minister informed and sought his concurrence to initiate formal investigations of Minister Iswaran because the investigations concerned a Cabinet Minister,” he said.
Mr Chan added that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong concurred within a day of receiving CPIB’s report.
He also said that under the Constitution, if the PM refuses to give his consent, the director of CPIB can go directly to the President for her or her concurrence to proceed with a CPIB investigation.
However, he noted that there has never been a Prime Minister who has impeded CPIB’s work.
Mr Chan added that there are also Constitutional safeguards for the appointment or removal of the director of CPIB, which require the concurrence of the President.
Addressing a question by Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim from Chua Chu Kang Group Representation Constituency on whether there will be a review of the Code of Conduct for Ministers, Mr Chan said that the Government will continue its regular reviews and updates while taking into account evolving circumstances and needs.
In response to questions relating to the Public Service’s Code of Conduct and avenues for public officers to report wrongdoing and protection of whistle-blowers, Mr Chan said that the Code sets out the principles and rules that public officers must abide by.
"It is periodically refreshed to ensure that the integrity and high standards of the Public Service are upheld," he said.
In the course of their work, public officers may come across different requests, be it from colleagues, friends, members of the public, or political office holders.
"When handling these requests, officers are expected to maintain a high level of professionalism, and safeguard the confidentiality of official information, as well as the political impartiality of the Public Service," said Mr Chan.
He added that should an officer be unsure of a request because it seemed inappropriate or unrelated to official work, he should consult and seek guidance from his supervisor.
"If the request comes from his supervisor, or a more senior officer, the officer can escalate the matter appropriately through the chain of command – including directly to his permanent secretary, the head of agency, the head of civil service, or the minister in-charge of the Public Service."
Analysts call for more transparency over Iswaran corruption probe in order to maintain trust and confidence
SINGAPORE: It is important for the government to be as transparent as possible about the corruption probe involving Transport Minister S Iswaran if it wants to maintain public trust and confidence in the investigation, analysts said.
But they also acknowledged difficulties in providing further information while the probe by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) is ongoing.
Questions have been raised about the timing and transparency of government communications on the graft probe since it was revealed that Mr Iswaran was arrested – a fact omitted from CPIB’s first media statement on the case.
“Given the keen public interest, it’s only apt for the government to provide accurate and updated information to the public in a timely manner,” said political analyst Eugene Tan, an associate professor of law at the Singapore Management University.
There is a perception that information is being “selectively released”, he said.
CPIB’s first media statement on the case on Jul 12 said Mr Iswaran was "assisting" with a probe into a case uncovered by the anti-corruption agency. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a separate statement on the same day that he had agreed to CPIB opening a formal investigation.
Two days later on the night of Jul 14, CPIB revealed that Mr Iswaran had in fact been arrested on Jul 11. The bureau was responding to CNA’s queries on the arrest of property tycoon Ong Beng Seng.
Mr Ong’s arrest, which also took place on Jul 11, was made known in a Jul 14 announcement by the billionaire's publicly listed company, Hotel Properties Limited.
The government later said that both Mr Lee and Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who spoke about the issue on Jul 12, did not reveal Mr Iswaran’s arrest because they did not want to deviate from what the CPIB had announced in its initial statement on the investigation as it was "related to operational matters".
This information was made known on Thursday (Jul 20), in a correction direction issued to the Political Sophistry blog on the instruction of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah.
“It is CPIB’s call to make, on the operational information it was comfortable to provide in the CPIB’s press releases,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
TOUGH TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AMID PROBE, BUT MORE CAN BE DONE
Analysts acknowledged the need to ensure that the information made public does not compromise CPIB’s investigations, but also said more could be done to release information in a timely manner.
There are efforts not to “blow this matter out of proportion” as the investigations are ongoing, said Dr Felix Tan, a political analyst at Nanyang Technological University.
“It would be better if there had been more transparency about the processes early on in order to erase all future suspicions and allegations,” he said.
Dr Tan added: “I would want to believe that there will be an internal debrief over what has happened and discussions about how the party will be moving forward.
“Nevertheless, it is most unfortunate that, once again, Singaporeans will know little of what transpires within the party until a much later date, if at all.”
SMU’s Assoc Prof Tan said that “drawing fine distinctions between the CPIB and PMO (does) not help in this matter of public importance”.
While the government must not interfere in CPIB’s operational matters, the disclosure of information on the case to the public can be better coordinated, timely and accurate, he said.
Assoc Prof Tan also pointed to the Deputy Prime Minister’sassurances of transparency, which make it “imperative for the government to put out relevant information promptly”.
But Dr Woo Jun Jie, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, pointed out that it is up to CPIB to provide further updates on its investigations, and the government will not be able to provide further details until that happens.
“As DPM Wong has noted, the CPIB’s operational needs determine the extent to which the agency can provide details on ongoing investigations,” he said.
“Nevertheless, the government has released substantial amounts of information to the public, including the restrictions on minister Iswaran's movements and access to official resources and government buildings.”
In response to CNA’s queries, the Prime Minister’s Office had said Mr Iswaran will remain in Singapore and have no access to official resources nor government buildings during his leave of absence.
IMPORTANT TO DEBUNK ONLINE RUMOURS
Analysts also agreed that it is important for the government to address and debunk online rumours about the corruption probe.
Since news of the investigation broke, rumours about the corruption allegations against Mr Iswaran have circulated widely on online forums and messaging apps.
“It is actually more damaging for rumours to circulate unchecked. In any crisis, it is absolutely necessary for the government to debunk any rumours decisively, so that there is no further public speculation along these lines.,” said Dr Woo.
He said that aside from using the POFMA, it may be helpful for public officials to debunk some of the rumours “once and for all”.
NTU’s Dr Tan also said it “would not be fair” to speculate on the seriousness of any potential corruption offences at this juncture.
He drew a distinction from other recent controversies in which People’s Action Party and Workers’ Party politicians left politics after admitting to extramarital affairs.
“After all, personal indiscretions pertain to one’s moral standing and, at best, one’s integrity and conscience,” he said.
“However, corruption would necessarily allude to all that as well as an intention to cheat and thereby a more serious offence that can have repercussions on our system and processes that we have built up over the years.”
https://gutzy.asia/2024/03/25/t315-contract-named-in-iswarans-case-was-awarded-to-lum-changs-subsidiary-in-2016
Iswaran faces 8 new charges over obtaining $19k in items including Brompton bike, golf clubs
SINGAPORE – Former transport minister S. Iswaran was handed eight new charges in court on March 25.
These are under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which makes it an offence for public servants to accept gifts from someone involved with them in an official capacity.
When asked by District Judge Brenda Tan, Iswaran – who now faces 35 charges in total – said he pleaded not guilty to the additional charges.
On March 25, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said in a statement that Iswaran had allegedly obtained, as a public servant, valuables with a total value of about $18,956.94 from a Lum Kok Seng.
Iswaran had allegedly known him to be involved in business that had a connection with his official function as minister for transport.
These alleged offences were committed between November 2021 and November 2022.
According to charge sheets, the items include bottles of whisky, golf clubs and a Brompton bicycle that cost $7,907.50.
The business transacted involved a contract between Lum Chang Building Contractors and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for addition and alteration works to Tanah Merah MRT station and existing viaducts.
The website of Lum Chang, a property management, interior design and construction firm, lists Mr Lum as its managing director.
The firm’s construction arm, Lum Chang Building Contractors, has taken on multibillion-dollar civil, building and infrastructural projects in Singapore, including being the main contractor for Bukit Panjang MRT station along the Downtown Line.
An LTA spokesperson said on March 25 that the statutory board has two ongoing projects with Lum Chang Building Contractors, including the one at Tanah Merah station that was awarded in October 2016.
The other one is the construction of the North-South Corridor tunnel between Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 and Avenue 9 that was awarded in December 2018.
“LTA has not awarded any contract to Lum Chang Building Contractors since 2019,” the spokesperson added.
An Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) spokesperson said it will take a decision in respect of the investigations against Mr Lum after the case against Iswaran has been completed, including the presentation of evidence in court.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, a Lum Chang spokesperson pointed to a statement by its board of directors issued to employees on March 25.
The statement said the board is aware that Mr Lum and Lum Chang Building Contractors were mentioned in media reports involving Iswaran and will make an announcement when there are material developments in the case.
Iswaran arrived in court on March 25 at about 8.20am with members of his legal team from Davinder Singh Chambers.
Speaking to the media gathered outside the court, he said: “Sorry you all had to get up so early this morning.”
As he walked towards the court trailed by members of the media, one of them tripped and fell. Iswaran helped him pick up his belongings.
Chief Prosecutor Tan Kiat Pheng told the court that the purpose of the March 25 hearing was to tender eight additional charges against Iswaran and transmit the new charges to the High Court.
Mr Navin Shanmugaraj Thevar, one of Iswaran’s lawyers, questioned why the new charges were tendered only now, and if the prosecution intended to file more charges against his client.
Mr Thevar said the prosecution recorded 36 cautioned statements from Iswaran in January 2024 but handed the former minister only 27 charges at his first court hearing on Jan 18.
“The eight new charges today were not part of the 36 (cautioned statements),” the defence lawyer added.
A cautioned statement sets out a notice for an accused person to provide his defence in response to an offence he is being charged with.
Mr Thevar added that the eight new charges related to matters that the CPIB had questioned Iswaran over in July and August 2023.
He said: “On March 16, three days before the criminal case disclosure conference (CCDC) at the High Court, CPIB called my client in and he was served eight new charges.”
During a CCDC, the prosecution and the defence disclose information about the case to facilitate the trial process.
Mr Thevar added: “When Mr Iswaran asked CPIB when the charges would be brought in court, he was told a decision had not been made.”
Chief Prosecutor Tan said in response that all charges tendered against Iswaran were based on evidence uncovered by CPIB and they had been reviewed by the AGC.
More at https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/iswaran-returns-to-state-courts-on-march-25-about-10-weeks-after-he-was-first-charged
Iswaran allowed to leave S’pore to help son settle in at Australia uni; case transferred to High Court
SINGAPORE - Former transport minister S. Iswaran has been granted permission to leave Singapore to settle his son into university in Australia, three weeks after he was handed 27 charges, which he pleaded not guilty to.
On Feb 8, Iswaran, who is out on $800,000 bail, turned up at the State Courts at around 2.30pm to make an application to leave jurisdiction from Feb 16 to March 4.
The prosecution imposed several conditions to this application, including a cash bail of $500,000. Iswaran must also provide his itinerary and his address overseas to the investigation officer (IO) and remain contactable by the IO.
He must also surrender his travel documents within 24 hours of his return to Singapore.
Iswaran’s bailor, who was identified in court as Mr Ng, agreed to those conditions before the judge.
When The Straits Times approached him after the hearing to ask what his relation to Iswaran is, Mr Ng did not respond and walked away.
Iswaran’s case will also be transferred to the High Court, with the prosecution saying this was due to the strong public interest in this case.
Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jiang Ke-Yue and Deputy Public Prosecutor Kelvin Chong did not elaborate on this. Chief Prosecutor Tan Kiat Pheng, who leads the prosecution team in this case, was not present in court.
Senior Counsel Davinder Singh from Davinder Singh Chambers, who is leading the defence team for Iswaran, was also not in court.
Defence lawyer Navin Shanmugaraj Thevar requested an early trial for his client so the “evidence can be fully aired and the matter decided as soon as possible”.
Mr Thevar said he wrote to the prosecution in January to indicate Iswaran’s request for an early trial, and agreed that this matter should be heard in the High Court.
The defence lawyer then sought the prosecution’s agreement to an early trial, adding that this should be possible, as the authorities have “had a long time to investigate this matter”.
In response, Mr Jiang said the judge’s schedule in the High Court should be taken into consideration for this, and that this matter can be addressed when a case conference is called.
All 27 charges Iswaran faces were re-read to him on Feb 8, as required when a case is transferred to the High Court.
A criminal case disclosure conference for the case will be held in the High Court on March 22.
Iswaran is accused of 24 counts of obtaining, as a minister, items with a total value of more than $200,000 from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng. Mr Ong is the man who brought Formula One to Singapore in 2008.
These items include tickets to the Singapore Grand Prix (GP), football matches in Britain and musicals.
Several of the charges were related to alleged incidents that happened between 2015 and 2021, and involved him allegedly obtaining tickets to a football match between West Ham United and Everton and to shows such as Harry Potter And The Cursed Child.
He also faces a charge of obstructing the course of justice on or about May 25, 2023.
According to court documents, he had allegedly made repayment of $5,700 – the cost of his business class flight ticket from Doha to Singapore that he had taken on Dec 11, 2022, at Mr Ong’s expense – through Singapore GP.
Iswaran was arrested in July 2023 by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) following its investigation into a separate matter. Mr Ong was also arrested that month as part of the corruption probe.
Following his court appearance on Jan 18, Iswaran issued a statement stating his innocence and said he will focus on clearing his name.
Iswaran was elected in 1997 as an MP for West Coast GRC, where he has served for the last 26 years.
He was promoted to full minister in the Prime Minister’s Office in 2011.
Iswaran resigned from the People’s Action Party in January and stepped down as transport minister and West Coast GRC MP.
For each corruption charge, he can be fined up to $100,000, jailed for up to seven years, or both.
He can be fined, jailed for up to two years or both, for obtaining valuable items from someone he had business dealings with as a public servant.
For obstructing the course of justice, he can be jailed for up to seven years, fined or both.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/iswaran-can-leave-s-pore-to-help-son-settle-in-at-australia-university-case-transferred-to-high-court
Singapore Minister’s Legal Woes Sink Storied Political Career
S. Iswaran, the Singapore transport minister who resigned after facing graft charges, was in public service for more than a quarter of a century. It took just months for his storied career to unravel.
The 61-year-old Iswaran — who helped bring Formula 1 racing to Singapore and represented the city-state at the World Economic Forum — was charged Thursday with two counts of corruption, 24 counts of obtaining “valuable things” from someone he had business dealings with as a public servant, and one for obstructing justice.
He said he’s innocent. He tendered his resignation earlier this week to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who accepted it on Wednesday.
“I reject the allegations in the charges and will now focus on clearing my name,” Iswaran said in a letter to Lee on Jan. 16.
“Given the circumstances, I feel it is right for me to resign from Cabinet, as a member of parliament and as a member” of the ruling People’s Action Party, he said.
Iswaran’s resignation is the end of a high-flying government career that had seen him in leadership positions in at least five ministries, including key ones such as trade, a sector vital to the city-state’s survival.
His downfall marks a low point for Singapore, which prides itself on a reputation for clean governance and business-friendly policies. The People’s Action Party, whose distinct white uniforms are meant to signify its politicians’ incorruptibility, has ruled the island since the country’s independence in 1965.
“I am disappointed and saddened that you are leaving politics in these circumstances,” Lee wrote in reply to Iswaran. “But it is essential that I deal with such matters rigorously in accordance with the law. It is the right thing to do.”
Iswaran had held the role of transport minister since May 2021, and was concurrently the minister-in-charge of trade relations, representing Singapore at global meetings such as the WEF in Davos and those by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
Tasked by Lee for almost a decade to deliver the annual National Day speech in Tamil — one of Singapore’s four official languages — it was the premier himself who announced in July the anti-corruption agency’s probe into Iswaran. Lee later said Iswaran had been blocked from access to official resources and government buildings, the same corridors he had roamed since first winning a seat in parliament in 1997.
Tough Times
The Iswaran scandal is taking place at a particularly sensitive time, with the country preparing for a leadership change this year when Lee is expected to hand power over to his deputy, Lawrence Wong.
Iswaran’s arrest in July 2023 added to a difficult few months for the PAP, with voters’ trust already shaken by the poor optics of two ministers renting state-owned colonial mansions. They were later cleared of wrongdoing in a government review. In mid-July, speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin — once seen by observers as a prime ministerial candidate — resigned after an extramarital affair with a fellow lawmaker.
Singapore’s ministers are among the world’s best-paid, earning about S$1.1 million ($820,000) a year, according to the Public Service Division. The city-state is ranked as the fifth-least corrupt country in the world, according to the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, trailing Denmark, Finland, New Zealand and Norway.
Iswaran was alleged to have improperly obtained tickets to watch musicals and soccer matches in the UK over a period of years from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng. Iswaran was also charged with obtaining dozens of tickets to the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix race over several years from Ong.
A spokesman for Ong declined to comment about the case.
Career Journey
Iswaran started his public service journey in 1987 in the home affairs and education ministries before he was seconded to the National Trades Union Congress, an umbrella labor movement with ties to the government. He was the first chief executive officer of the Singapore Indian Development Association, a government-approved body aimed at boosting the socio-economic status of the local Indian community.
He was director for international trade in the lead up to Singapore’s hosting of the World Trade Organization’s Ministerial Conference in 1996. Later, he was managing director at state-owned investor Temasek Holdings, where he carried out investment, takeover, buy-out and merger transactions in the pharmaceuticals, biotech, high-tech manufacturing, transport and logistics sectors.
Iswaran’s working relationship with Ong predated the 2008 arrival of F1’s night race in Singapore. When he was managing director at Temasek in the early 2000s, the state investor backed Ong’s bid for NatSteel Ltd., Singapore’s biggest steelmaker.
The tycoon won control of the steelmaker in 2003 through one of his entities known as 98 Holdings Ltd., which listed Iswaran as a director on behalf of Temasek. The state investor unloaded its stake in Ong’s firm in 2004. In 2022, a consortium led by Ong, together with units of Temasek, acquired a media and property company in the city-state.
Easy Camaraderie
Iswaran boasted an easy camaraderie publicly with legislative and ministerial colleagues. He was often seen chatting with peers as they left the parliament floor, where he has a seat in the front row as a minister.
As is typical with many Singapore politicians, Iswaran’s family is rarely in the limelight. He met his wife when they were both in their late teens and studying at the University of Adelaide, she said in an interview with India Se magazine in 2019. He read economics there, and later earned a masters in public administration from Harvard University.
His wife is listed as chairwoman of a non-profit organization which helps students from low-income families when there is a crisis. They have three children who are now around their early 20s, according to the 2019 interview.
His Instagram feed over eight years featured mainly his interactions with constituents on his walkabouts and at community events, cycling around the island, hosting visiting politicians from overseas and his travels for work. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made some appearances, as did other politicians from the South Asian country. One post was a picture of Iswaran, his son and soccer star David Beckham.
Famous Friends
In the early months of Covid-19, Iswaran reached out to Indian celebrities including actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and musician A.R. Rahman to send messages of support to the local migrant worker community who weren’t allowed to leave their dorms.
The transport portfolio he oversaw is one of the most challenging in the Cabinet. The ills of subway breakdowns, a shortage of taxis or complaints about ride-hailing platforms and high car prices are shared on social media quickly and widely, with blame directed at the government.
In announcing a 2021 Cabinet reshuffle, Lee praised Iswaran’s work in his prior role as communications and information minister, saying he had “helped us understand and respond to citizens’ views and concerns.”
Iswaran made reviving aviation a priority after the pandemic devastated the travel industry. The national carrier had cut thousands of jobs during Covid-19 and was forced to raise billions of dollars to survive.
As the nation gradually reopened its borders and allowed more freedoms domestically with the easing of the pandemic, Iswaran said in January 2022 that Singapore would continue to host the F1 race for another seven years after “thoroughly evaluating the long term benefits that a term extension could bring.”
Lee wrote to Iswaran on Wednesday that the integrity of the ruling party and government must be upheld.
“Singaporeans expect no less,” he said.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-18/s-iswaran-s-fall-after-corruption-charges-comes-at-crucial-time-for-singapore
ADIOS MUCHACHOS👋
JUST IN.
CPIB completes investigation on Iswaran, case pending AGC review
The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau's (CPIB) investigation into Minister for Transport S. Iswaran has been completed and is currently being reviewed by the Attorney-General's Chambers, said Minister Chan Chun Sing, on behalf of the Prime Minister.
In a written response to Progress Singapore Party's Hazel Poa's parliamentary question asking for an update on the CPIB's investigation of Iswaran, Chan said that he understands there is much public interest in the matter.
"I want to give my assurance that this case will be put through the due legal process," he added, stating that the CPIB has completed a "robust and thorough investigation".
"The matter is currently being reviewed by the Attorney-General's Chambers. It would, therefore, not be appropriate to comment on the matter at this juncture," he added.
CPIB investigating Iswaran since May 2023
CPIB came across information on Iswaran during another investigation.
This started a quiet investigation in May 2023, and PM Lee was alerted to it on May 29, 2023.
On Jul. 5, CPIB told PM Lee that they had attained adequate information to launch a formal investigation into Iswaran. PM Lee gave the director of CPIB his concurrence to launch a formal investigation.
Iswaran was subsequently arrested by CPIB on Jul. 11 and released on bail.
He was arrested on the same day as billionaire hotelier Ong Beng Seng.
PM Lee instructed Iswaran to take a leave of absence until CPIB's investigations are completed.
Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat is currently the Acting Minister for Transport.
PM Lee said that Iswaran does not have access to any official resources and government buildings during his leave of absence.
He is also to remain in Singapore while investigations are ongoing.
CPIB stated that it is unable to provide further details about the case while investigations are ongoing.
Look who showed up at Sri Mariamman Temple
Apparently Iswaran still features on PAP's West Coast GRC banners - does that mean he is in the clear?
CPIB didn't announce Iswaran's arrest initially as it wanted to establish more facts, hear his side: Chan Chun Sing
• CPIB did not announce that Mr S Iswaran had been arrested as it wanted to first establish more facts of the case, said Mr Chan Chun Sing
• He also said that law enforcement agencies including CPIB, usually do not disclose the names of persons who are being investigated
• However, CPIB decided to disclose that Mr Iswaran was assisting CPIB with investigations as the case involved a Minister
• Mr Chan also clarified that CPIB is functionally independent and does not require the Prime Minister’s concurrence to conduct investigations
• He added that if the PM were to the object, the director of CPIB can go directly to the President for her or her concurrence to proceed with a CPIB investigation.
SINGAPORE — When the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) first disclosed that Transport Minister S Iswaran was assisting with investigations, it did not state that he had been arrested as it wanted to first establish more facts of the case, as well as hear his side of the story, said Minister-in-charge of the Public Service, Mr Chan Chun Sing on Wednesday (Aug 2).
CPIB had announced on July 12 that Mr Iswaran was assisting with investigations but only announced two days later that Mr Iswaran and Hotel Properties Limited managing director Ong Beng Seng had been arrested by the CPIB on July 11.
Addressing questions from several Members of Parliament (MP) in Parliament, Mr Chan, added that law enforcement agencies including CPIB, usually do not disclose the names of persons who are being investigated or arrested as there are “good reasons”.
“Say someone has been picked up, arrested, and investigations are ongoing. If it is immediately announced that the person has been arrested and is being investigated, it may prejudice the person,” said Mr Chan, who is also Education Minister.
He said that this will create an impression that the person has done wrong, even if subsequent investigations do not result in any charges brought against him.
“Thus, to be fair to the persons involved, law enforcement agencies generally refrain from immediately naming the persons being investigated,” he said.
For the present case however, CPIB decided to disclose on July 12 that Mr Iswaran was assisting CPIB with investigations as it involved a Minister, said Mr Chan.
CPIB DOES NOT REQUIRE PM'S CONCURRENCE TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS
On CPIB's investigations, Non-constituency MP from Progress Singapore Party’s Leong Mun Wai and Workers’ Party MP Louis Chua asked whether all of its investigations require the Prime Minister’s (PM) concurrence and if the bureau is obliged to seek his concurrence to open formal investigations for potential offences it has uncovered.
To this, Mr Chan said that although the bureau reports directly to the PM, it is “functionally independent” and does not require the PM’s concurrence to conduct its investigations.
“In this case, it kept the Prime Minister informed and sought his concurrence to initiate formal investigations of Minister Iswaran because the investigations concerned a Cabinet Minister,” he said.
Mr Chan added that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong concurred within a day of receiving CPIB’s report.
He also said that under the Constitution, if the PM refuses to give his consent, the director of CPIB can go directly to the President for her or her concurrence to proceed with a CPIB investigation.
However, he noted that there has never been a Prime Minister who has impeded CPIB’s work.
Mr Chan added that there are also Constitutional safeguards for the appointment or removal of the director of CPIB, which require the concurrence of the President.
Addressing a question by Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim from Chua Chu Kang Group Representation Constituency on whether there will be a review of the Code of Conduct for Ministers, Mr Chan said that the Government will continue its regular reviews and updates while taking into account evolving circumstances and needs.
In response to questions relating to the Public Service’s Code of Conduct and avenues for public officers to report wrongdoing and protection of whistle-blowers, Mr Chan said that the Code sets out the principles and rules that public officers must abide by.
"It is periodically refreshed to ensure that the integrity and high standards of the Public Service are upheld," he said.
In the course of their work, public officers may come across different requests, be it from colleagues, friends, members of the public, or political office holders.
"When handling these requests, officers are expected to maintain a high level of professionalism, and safeguard the confidentiality of official information, as well as the political impartiality of the Public Service," said Mr Chan.
He added that should an officer be unsure of a request because it seemed inappropriate or unrelated to official work, he should consult and seek guidance from his supervisor.
"If the request comes from his supervisor, or a more senior officer, the officer can escalate the matter appropriately through the chain of command – including directly to his permanent secretary, the head of agency, the head of civil service, or the minister in-charge of the Public Service."
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/cpib-didnt-announce-iswarans-arrest-initially-it-wanted-establish-more-facts-hear-his-side-chan-chun-sing-2224556
When Chee Hong Tat was first informed of his promotion to Acting Minister for Transport....
Analysts call for more transparency over Iswaran corruption probe in order to maintain trust and confidence
SINGAPORE: It is important for the government to be as transparent as possible about the corruption probe involving Transport Minister S Iswaran if it wants to maintain public trust and confidence in the investigation, analysts said.
But they also acknowledged difficulties in providing further information while the probe by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) is ongoing.
Questions have been raised about the timing and transparency of government communications on the graft probe since it was revealed that Mr Iswaran was arrested – a fact omitted from CPIB’s first media statement on the case.
“Given the keen public interest, it’s only apt for the government to provide accurate and updated information to the public in a timely manner,” said political analyst Eugene Tan, an associate professor of law at the Singapore Management University.
There is a perception that information is being “selectively released”, he said.
CPIB’s first media statement on the case on Jul 12 said Mr Iswaran was "assisting" with a probe into a case uncovered by the anti-corruption agency. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a separate statement on the same day that he had agreed to CPIB opening a formal investigation.
Two days later on the night of Jul 14, CPIB revealed that Mr Iswaran had in fact been arrested on Jul 11. The bureau was responding to CNA’s queries on the arrest of property tycoon Ong Beng Seng.
Mr Ong’s arrest, which also took place on Jul 11, was made known in a Jul 14 announcement by the billionaire's publicly listed company, Hotel Properties Limited.
The government later said that both Mr Lee and Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who spoke about the issue on Jul 12, did not reveal Mr Iswaran’s arrest because they did not want to deviate from what the CPIB had announced in its initial statement on the investigation as it was "related to operational matters".
This information was made known on Thursday (Jul 20), in a correction direction issued to the Political Sophistry blog on the instruction of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah.
“It is CPIB’s call to make, on the operational information it was comfortable to provide in the CPIB’s press releases,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
TOUGH TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AMID PROBE, BUT MORE CAN BE DONE
Analysts acknowledged the need to ensure that the information made public does not compromise CPIB’s investigations, but also said more could be done to release information in a timely manner.
There are efforts not to “blow this matter out of proportion” as the investigations are ongoing, said Dr Felix Tan, a political analyst at Nanyang Technological University.
“It would be better if there had been more transparency about the processes early on in order to erase all future suspicions and allegations,” he said.
Dr Tan added: “I would want to believe that there will be an internal debrief over what has happened and discussions about how the party will be moving forward.
“Nevertheless, it is most unfortunate that, once again, Singaporeans will know little of what transpires within the party until a much later date, if at all.”
SMU’s Assoc Prof Tan said that “drawing fine distinctions between the CPIB and PMO (does) not help in this matter of public importance”.
While the government must not interfere in CPIB’s operational matters, the disclosure of information on the case to the public can be better coordinated, timely and accurate, he said.
Assoc Prof Tan also pointed to the Deputy Prime Minister’s assurances of transparency, which make it “imperative for the government to put out relevant information promptly”.
But Dr Woo Jun Jie, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, pointed out that it is up to CPIB to provide further updates on its investigations, and the government will not be able to provide further details until that happens.
“As DPM Wong has noted, the CPIB’s operational needs determine the extent to which the agency can provide details on ongoing investigations,” he said.
“Nevertheless, the government has released substantial amounts of information to the public, including the restrictions on minister Iswaran's movements and access to official resources and government buildings.”
In response to CNA’s queries, the Prime Minister’s Office had said Mr Iswaran will remain in Singapore and have no access to official resources nor government buildings during his leave of absence.
IMPORTANT TO DEBUNK ONLINE RUMOURS
Analysts also agreed that it is important for the government to address and debunk online rumours about the corruption probe.
Since news of the investigation broke, rumours about the corruption allegations against Mr Iswaran have circulated widely on online forums and messaging apps.
“It is actually more damaging for rumours to circulate unchecked. In any crisis, it is absolutely necessary for the government to debunk any rumours decisively, so that there is no further public speculation along these lines.,” said Dr Woo.
He said that aside from using the POFMA, it may be helpful for public officials to debunk some of the rumours “once and for all”.
NTU’s Dr Tan also said it “would not be fair” to speculate on the seriousness of any potential corruption offences at this juncture.
He drew a distinction from other recent controversies in which People’s Action Party and Workers’ Party politicians left politics after admitting to extramarital affairs.
“After all, personal indiscretions pertain to one’s moral standing and, at best, one’s integrity and conscience,” he said.
“However, corruption would necessarily allude to all that as well as an intention to cheat and thereby a more serious offence that can have repercussions on our system and processes that we have built up over the years.”
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/iswaran-corruption-arrest-investigation-cpib-transparent-trust-3639306