Iswaran convicted, likely to face jail time

On what was to be the first day of a highly anticipated trial in which he aimed to clear his name, former transport minister S. Iswaran was convicted on Sept 24 after he pleaded guilty to five of the 35 charges he faced.

- Wong Shiying and Christine Tan

Events took an unexpected turn after the prosecution agreed to amend two corruption charges to less serious charges of obtaining valuable items as a public servant. Iswaran, 62, admitted to obtaining valuable items worth more than $400,000 in total from Formula One (F1) race promoter Singapore GP's chairman Ong Beng Seng and Mr David Lum Kok Seng, managing director of mainboard-listed construction company Lum Chang Holdings.

He has paid back more than $380,000 to the state and will forfeit the items he received.

The prosecution, represented by Deputy Attorney-General Tai Wei Shyong, pressed for six to seven months' jail for Iswaran.

Mr Tai argued that as Iswaran was a minister for 12 years, his acts have had significant impact on the reputation of the Singapore Government, which is well known for its commitment to integrity.

He said that if public servants could accept substantial gifts in such a situation, public confidence in the integrity of government would be undermined.

" Not punishing such acts would send a signal that such acts are tolerated," he said.

But Iswaran's lawyer, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, argued that the former minister should serve no more than eight weeks in jail.

Mr Singh said there was nothing to suggest that his client's loyalty and duties to the Government were compromised.

In response, Mr Tai contended that it was important for the court to set the "correct marker" on the punishment to be meted out.

Justice Vincent Hoong said he would take time to further consider the arguments, and that he would give his decision on the sentence on Oct 3.

Iswaran had pleaded guilty to four charges of obtaining valuable items as a public servant, an offence under Section 165 of the Penal Code. Another 30 charges will be taken into consideration for sentencing.

He is the first person to be convicted of the offence since Singapore's independence.