A senior cabinet minister in Singapore, Subramaniam Iswaran, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison in a high-profile corruption case that has shaken the nation’s political establishment.
The 62-year-old former transport minister pleaded guilty to accepting gifts valued at more than S$403,000 (US$311,882) while in public office, as well as obstructing the course of justice.
The gifts included luxury items such as tickets to the Formula 1 Grand Prix, a high-end bicycle, alcohol, and a private jet ride.
Justice Vincent Hoong, who presided over the case in Singapore’s High Court, said Iswaran’s actions represented a serious abuse of power.
“In his letter to the prime minister, he stated he rejected [the charges] and expressed his strong belief he would be acquitted,” Hoong said. “Thus I have difficulty accepting these are indicative of his remorse.”
Iswaran will begin his prison term on October 7 at Changi Prison, where conditions are known to be harsh, with no fans in the cells and straw mats used as bedding.
His sentencing marks the first time in nearly 50 years that a high-ranking political figure in Singapore has been tried and convicted.
The trial has cast a shadow on Singapore’s reputation for clean governance, which is a source of national pride.
The ruling People’s Action Party has long promoted its tough stance against corruption. The case is part of a series of scandals involving public officials that have rocked the government in recent years.
Prosecutors had sought a six to seven-month prison term, arguing that Iswaran was “more than a passive acceptor of gifts.”
Deputy Attorney-General Tai Wei Shyong warned that allowing such acts to go unpunished would erode public trust in the integrity of government.
“Not punishing such acts would send a signal that such acts are tolerated,” Tai said.
The charges against Iswaran arose primarily from his dealings with billionaire property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, who is also under investigation. Iswaran attempted to conceal his acceptance of a private jet flight from Ong by asking to be billed for the trip after learning of the investigation.
Iswaran initially faced 35 charges, including corruption, obstructing justice, and improperly obtaining valuable items as a public servant.
In September, he pleaded guilty to lesser offenses after the charges were amended.
A law professor at Singapore Management University, Eugene Tan, remarked that while the sum involved was not large compared to Iswaran’s salary, public expectations for a zero-tolerance stance on corruption were high.
“The public were expecting the court to demonstrate zero tolerance for this sort of conduct,” Tan said.
Iswaran’s case is the latest in a string of political scandals involving the PAP, which has faced growing criticism ahead of the next general election due by November 2025.
The corruption trial follows other incidents, including a 2023 real estate investigation involving two ministers and the resignation of Parliament’s speaker over an extramarital affair.
Although cleared of wrongdoing in the real estate probe, the scandals have raised concerns about the privileges enjoyed by Singapore’s political elite at a time when ordinary citizens are grappling with rising living costs.
The PAP, which has ruled Singapore for decades, faces an increasingly strong challenge from opposition parties.
The Workers’ Party, which won 10 seats in the last general election, has also been hit by controversy, with its leader Pritam Singh facing charges of lying under oath to a parliamentary committee—accusations he denies.
