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       In a Rare Move, Singapore Charges a Government Minister With Corruption

       Accused of accepting tickets to “Hamilton,” air travel and soccer games in Britain, the transport official resigned before he pleaded not guilty in court.

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       S. Iswaran, center, Singapore’s former transport minister, arriving at a court with his legal team in Singapore on Thursday. Credit...Mark Cheong/The Straits Times, via Reuters

       By Sui-Lee Wee

       Jan. 18, 2024Updated 10:21 a.m. ET

       It was an unprecedented set of events in Singapore: a government minister charged with corruption and then hauled to court.

       S. Iswaran, the transport minister, was formally accused on Monday of taking bribes including a ride on a private jet and tickets to the musical “Hamilton” and soccer games in Britain. By the time he appeared in court on Thursday and pleaded not guilty, he had resigned from his post.

       Singapore has long touted a squeaky clean image and a lack of graft. But in recent months, several scandals have tarnished the governing People’s Action Party’s reputation — and, in effect, the country’s.

       Allegations of impropriety involving Mr. Iswaran became public in July. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong ordered him to take a leave of absence while the authorities investigated Mr. Iswaran’s dealings involving a billionaire who helped bring the Formula 1 auto race to Singapore. The charges unveiled against him include two counts of corruption and one charge of obstructing justice. He is also facing 24 counts of “obtaining, as a public servant, valuable things” worth more than hundreds of thousands of dollars.

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       Sui-Lee Wee is the Southeast Asia bureau chief for The Times, overseeing coverage of 11 countries in the region. More about Sui-Lee Wee

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