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Former transport minister Iswaran surrenders passport after returning to Singapore: AGC

2024-03-20 00:00:00.0 海峡时报-新加坡原网页

SINGAPORE - Former transport minister S. Iswaran, who is facing corruption charges, has returned to Singapore following his discharge from a hospital in Melbourne.

He has surrendered his passport to the authorities, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) said on March 20 in response to queries from The Straits Times.

The 61-year-old, who was granted $800,000 bail after he was charged on Jan 18, was originally slated to be in Australia from Feb 16 to March 4.

He was given permission to leave Singapore to help his son settle in at a university in Melbourne. Several conditions were imposed, including an additional cash bail of $500,000.

ST had reported that Iswaran was admitted to the private hospital Cabrini Malvern for respiratory illness, and he was subsequently discharged.

He was advised by his doctor not to travel for 12 days following his discharge from the hospital in Melbourne on March 5.

The former minister was granted permission to remain abroad, but he had to report to the police investigation officer daily via video call, and provide updates on his medical condition and whether there were any issues concerning his return to Singapore on March 19.

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Iswaran’s case has been transferred to the High Court. A chambers hearing has been fixed for April 2, for the prosecution and the defence to exchange information ahead of the trial.

He faces a total of 27 charges, including two for corruption. The corruption charges relate to alleged bribes obtained from billionaire Ong Beng Seng as inducement for advancing the hotel and property tycoon’s business interests in relation to agreements between Singapore GP and the Singapore Tourism Board.

Mr Ong, who is chairman of race promoter Singapore GP, is credited for bringing the Formula 1 Grand Prix to Singapore.

Iswaran is accused of obtaining a bribe in the form of tickets to the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix amounting to $145,434 from Mr Ong in September 2022.

He is also accused of obtaining a $20,848.03 bribe from Mr Ong in December 2022, in the form of a flight on the tycoon’s private plane from Singapore to Doha, one night’s stay in Four Seasons Doha, and a business class flight ticket from Doha to Singapore.

Iswaran also faces 24 counts of obtaining, as a minister, items with a total value of more than $200,000 from Mr Ong between November 2015 and December 2021.

These items include tickets to the Singapore Grand Prix, as well as football matches and musical shows in Britain.

Iswaran was also handed a charge of obstructing the course of justice for allegedly making repayment of $5,700 in May 2023 for the cost of a business class flight ticket that he purportedly took in 2022 at Mr Ong’s expense.

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Following his court appearance on Jan 18, 2024, Iswaran issued a statement stating his innocence and said he will focus on clearing his name.

He was elected in 1997 as an MP for West Coast GRC, where he served for 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.

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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.

Correction note: In an earlier version of the story, Mr Ong Beng Seng’s business was identified as Singapore Grand Prix. It should be Singapore GP. We are sorry for the error.