Former Singapore Minister S Iswaran Pleads Guilty to Charges Involving $400,000 in Benefits and Obstruction of Justice

SINGAPORE: On Tuesday (Sep 24), former Transport Minister S Iswaran pleaded guilty to four charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code and one charge of obstructing justice, relating to his involvement in receiving over S$400,000 in valuable items. This marked a dramatic turn after months of asserting he would fight the charges in court.

The charges involve a range of valuable gifts, including tickets to the Singapore F1 Grand Prix, theatre shows, whisky, and international flights. These gifts, exceeding S$400,000 in value, were provided by property tycoon Ong Beng Seng and construction firm boss Lum Kok Seng. While both businessmen have not been charged, their involvement is central to the case.

One of the key charges Iswaran admitted to was accepting complimentary tickets to the 2022 Singapore F1 Grand Prix, including 10 Green Room tickets worth S$48,150 and 32 general admission tickets valued at S$41,216. These gifts were linked to Ong, the majority shareholder of Singapore GP, and were given while Iswaran oversaw the Grand Prix as part of his ministerial duties.

In a separate incident in December 2022, Iswaran accepted a private jet flight to Qatar, a stay at Four Seasons Doha, and a business class flight back to Singapore, all arranged by Ong. Iswaran did not disclose these gifts to the government and only paid for part of the trip after learning the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) was investigating.

The obstruction of justice charge stems from Iswaran's efforts to conceal his dealings, particularly by paying for the business-class return flight only after being informed about CPIB’s inquiry.

Iswaran faces up to seven years for obstruction of justice and two years for obtaining gifts as a public servant. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct 3.

Comments

Doctor Charged for Illegally Supplying Codeine Cough Syrup to Reseller

A Singapore doctor and another man have been charged in court over the illegal supply and intended sale of massive amounts of Dhasedyl cough syrup containing the opioid codeine. The drug is known to cause drowsiness, dizziness, and has the potential to cause addiction. The Charges and the Alleged Scheme The two individuals involved are: Dr. Goh Sze Yi (48): Practising at the former Prudence Family Clinic in Bishan, Dr. Goh faces one charge under the Health Products Act. He allegedly supplied more than 2,000 litres of the Dhasedyl cough syrup to the second man, Gwee Keat Sheong, despite not possessing a valid wholesaler's licence to do so. Gwee Keat Sheong (50): Gwee faces more than 80 charges under the same Act. He allegedly obtained the cough syrup with the intent to sell it to others. Among the charges, Gwee is accused of possessing for sale unlabelled canisters of a brown liquid containing codeine in a Choa Chu Kang flat in June 2023. The illegal supply operation allegedly occur...

Doctor Faces Jail Time For Negligent Aesthetic Treatment Leading To Patient Death

A thirty seven year old medical practitioner named Chan Bingyi is facing a potential prison sentence of between eighteen and twenty four months following his conviction for a negligent act that resulted in the death of a patient. On April 21 2026 the prosecution presented its sentencing arguments before the court highlighting the severity of the lapse in medical judgment that occurred in 2019. The case involves the death of Lau Li Ting a thirty one year old property agent who passed away following an aesthetic treatment. The incident took place on March 8 2019 at the Revival Medical & Aesthetics Centre located in Bras Basah Road. Ms Lau had visited the clinic situated within the Esplanade Xchange shopping mall for aesthetic purposes specifically hoping to address fine lines on her forehead. During the visit Chan intravenously administered ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or EDTA to the patient. Court documents and expert testimony emphasized that there was no medical necessity...

New Punggol Northshore BTO Plagued by Water Seepage and Electrical Hazards

***Update: HDB, Maincon and Consultant has came down to the unit to check. Will update on status once we have more information. A Punggol Northshore BTO homeowner, who moved into his newly renovated flat in July 2024, has voiced frustration over severe water leakage issues that have left his unit unsafe and unlivable. Water has been observed seeping from an electrical powerpoint, with puddles forming on the floor and walls showing bubbling and signs of damage from moisture. The source of the leak appears to be an external wall adjacent to the master bedroom, according to assessments by the main contractor. However, the leakage has already caused significant damage to the flat's walls and paintwork, leaving the homeowner distressed. Adding to the frustration, the main contractor advised the homeowner to avoid using the affected power switches in the living room and bedroom due to the risk of a short circuit. Despite the warning, the homeowner has no choice but to turn on the light...

LAKOPINEWS.COM

Search This Blog