SINGAPORE: Alternative party Red Dot United (RDU) called on The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to provide a detailed and public explanation of the rationale behind their amendments to the charges and their sentencing recommendations against former Transport Minister S. Iswaran.

In a statement issued on Thursday (10 October), RDU’s Secretary-General, Ravi Philemon, stressed that this is a matter of significant public interest, compelling the party to raise critical questions about transparency.

He emphasised the need for such clarity to restore public confidence in Singapore’s institutions.

The statement referenced the sentencing of Mr Iswaran to 12 months’ imprisonment for accepting valuable gifts, under Section 165 of the Penal Code.

“We respect the right of Mr Iswaran and his family for privacy as they come to terms with his crime. But it is important to discuss the offences committed and how the case has unfolded over the past 15 months,” said Philemon.

RDU’s call comes on the heels of an earlier statement by the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), which also sought greater clarity from the AGC regarding its prosecutorial decisions in the Iswaran case.

Concerns Over Amended Charges

The AGC’s decision to amend the initial charges against Mr Iswaran has raised significant concerns.

Initially, the former minister faced 35 charges, including two under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA), for corruption involving over S$400,000 worth of valuable items.

However, days before the trial was set to commence in September 2024, the AGC reduced these to lesser offences under Section 165, drastically lowering the potential penalties.

RDU has questioned why the AGC initially determined that the PCA charges were justified and why this assessment changed as the trial approached.

Philemon asked, “Was there new information that made the original charges untenable, or did the AGC reassess the risks involved in proceeding with a full trial? ”

“The public deserves clarity, especially given the serious nature of the accusations.”

Lenient Sentencing Recommendations

Another point of contention highlighted by RDU is the AGC’s sentencing recommendation.

Despite the extensive nature of Mr Iswaran’s wrongdoing, the AGC recommended a sentence of just six to seven months.

However, Justice Vincent Hoong handed down a 12-month jail term, almost double what was sought by the prosecution.

Philemon remarked, “As a former minister, Mr Iswaran occupied a position of immense responsibility, and his actions not only betrayed public trust but also set a dangerous precedent for how corruption cases involving high-ranking officials are managed.”

“Given this, we urge the AGC to address if it took such a lenient position and whether such considerations are consistent across similar cases,” he added.

Lack of Transparency in Related Cases

RDU also expressed concerns over the status of other individuals named in connection with the case, such as Mr Ong Beng Seng and Mr Lum Kok Seng.

While Mr Ong has since been charged, RDU questioned why it took so long and what criteria the AGC used when deciding whether to pursue charges against associated parties.

“This piecemeal approach to prosecuting such a high-profile case suggests a lack of consistent standards and undermines public confidence in the impartiality of our legal system.,” said Philemon.

Commendation of Judge’s Decision

Despite concerns over the AGC’s actions, RDU praised Justice Vincent Hoong for imposing a sentence that more appropriately reflected the seriousness of the offences.

“His decision underscores the importance of accountability and reinforces the need for robust sentencing to reflect the gravity of offences committed by individuals holding high public office,” Philemon added.

RDU stressed that transparency is crucial to upholding good governance, asserting that Singaporeans deserve clear answers on matters that may compromise the integrity of the public service.

The party expressed hope that the authorities would address these concerns and build long-term trust and understanding through enhanced openness.

AGC Cited Evidentiary Risks in Reducing Iswaran’s Corruption Charges

In a statement issued on 24 September, the AGC cited substantial evidentiary risks in proving the original corruption charges, which involved  Ong Beng Seng and Lum Kok Seng.

The AGC noted that proving the original corruption charges under PCA would have been difficult due to the involvement of both Iswaran and Ong as primary parties.

Both would have had to implicate themselves to establish corrupt intent.

The AGC explained that “there are two primary parties to the transactions, and both would have an interest in denying corruption in the transactions.” This made securing a conviction for corruption highly uncertain.

In light of these risks, the AGC amended the charges to offenses under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a lower evidentiary threshold and a reduced maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment.

According to AGC, the amendment was made to ensure a fair and just outcome while considering public interest.

SINGAPORE: In a Facebook update on 9 October at 5:30 PM, Lee Hsien Yang (LHY), brother of Dr Lee Wei Ling, shared details about his sister’s funeral wake.

Dr Lee’s wake will be held at Singapore Casket, Pearl & Sapphire Hall, located at 131 Lavender Street, Singapore, from Thursday (10 October 2024) to Saturday.

The visiting hours are as follows:

• 10 October: 2 PM to 10 PM
• 11 October: 10 AM to 10 PM
• 12 October: 10 AM to 1 PM

Dr Lee, the daughter of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 69.

In an earlier Facebook post, LHY mentioned that she died at the family home at 38 Oxley Road.

LHY will likely not return to attend Dr Lee’s funeral, just as his wife was unable to attend her father’s funeral last year.

In response to CNA’s queries, LHY said he would not be returning to Singapore for Dr Lee’s wake and funeral.

He told CNA, “I am organising the funeral remotely with the help of my son Huanwu, in accordance with Ling’s wishes.”

LHY and his family have been embroiled in a dispute over the fate of the 38 Oxley property since the passing of their father, Lee Kuan Yew, in 2015.

In March last year, LHY posted on Facebook, “I am heartbroken that my own country has made me a fugitive for standing up for my father’s promise, Lee Kuan Yew.”

Dr Lee, a noted neurologist, had long been a prominent figure in Singapore’s public and private spheres.

She had chosen to live a life of privacy, never marrying and remaining close to her immediate family, particularly her brother LHY.

LHY requested that no flowers be presented in her memory and instead asked for donations to be made to three charities: Canossa Mission Singapore, Parkinson Society Singapore, and Total Well-Being SG Limited, in honour of Dr Lee’s compassionate spirit.

Illness and Final Years

Dr Lee’s diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy, which she announced in 2020, marked the beginning of a challenging period in her life.

The neurological disorder, often mistaken for Parkinson’s disease in its early stages, progressively impaired her physical movements, vision, balance, and eventually led to difficulty swallowing and an increased risk of pneumonia.

Dr Lee candidly described her condition on Facebook, explaining that for those afflicted with the disorder, death would eventually come for the fortunate.

In a poignant post in March 2023, LHY revealed that Dr Lee had become “extremely unwell.” He expressed deep sorrow over the fact that he might never see his sister again due to his own circumstances.

In 2020, just before the global COVID-19 pandemic, LHY had taken Dr Lee on a memorable trip to Machu Picchu, fulfilling one of her long-held dreams.

Family and Legacy

Dr Lee Wei Ling is survived by her brother LHY, his wife, and their children. She was the only daughter of the late LKY, Singapore’s founding prime minister, and the sister of former Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong (LHL), who is now Senior Minister.

Throughout her life, Dr Lee maintained a close relationship with her family, particularly with LHY, who had taken responsibility for her care following the passing of their father in 2015.

Despite her close family ties, Dr Lee and LHY had a well-publicised falling out with their elder brother, LHL, following their father’s death.

The dispute centred around the family home at 38 Oxley Road, where LKY had lived for most of his life.

Dr Lee and LHY accused their brother of opposing their father’s wish to have the house demolished after his passing. Dr Lee publicly referred to her brother as “the dishonourable son,” a phrase that gained wide attention during the familial dispute.

Contributions and Advocacy

In addition to her professional accomplishments as a neurologist, Dr Lee was known for her candidness and strong advocacy on matters close to her heart.

In her later years, she became an outspoken figure in Singapore, especially regarding issues of legacy, family honour, and her father’s wishes.

Her open discussions about her health and struggles with progressive supranuclear palsy also drew attention to the often-overlooked challenges faced by individuals with rare neurodegenerative diseases.

At her father’s state funeral in 2015, Dr Lee delivered a moving eulogy, where she recalled how she could not allow herself to cry, stating, “I am a Hakka woman.”

Her brother, LHY, referred to this in his tribute to her, saying, “Ling, I am less stoic than you.”