PM Lawrence Wong reaffirms government's commitment to integrity after ex-minister Iswaran's jail sentence

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong reaffirmed on Thursday (3 Oct) that the government will prioritise doing what is right for Singapore, even at the potential cost of political fallout. His statement was issued on the same day former minister S Iswaran was sentenced to one year in prison for accepting gifts worth over S$400,000 over seven years from two businessmen. PM Wong acknowledged the gravity of Iswaran’s actions and reiterated that public servants must always uphold the highest standards of integrity. He expressed sadness over Iswaran's downfall, highlighting his 25-year parliamentary career and contributions as a minister in several key portfolios. However, PM Wong stressed that these past achievements could not absolve Iswaran of his wrongdoing, stating, "As painful as it is to act against a colleague and friend, it is our duty to do so when necessary."

Government's Stand Against Corruption

PM Wong emphasised the government’s uncompromising stance on corruption, noting that public servants' conduct must be “beyond reproach” to maintain public trust. He asserted, "Our system of government and politics must always stay clean and free from corruption." While acknowledging that no political system is immune to human failings, he emphasised that individuals who stray from the path of integrity will be held accountable once their actions come to light. The Prime Minister made it clear that the political cost of addressing misconduct would not deter the government from taking the necessary action. His statement reaffirmed the government's commitment to integrity in public service, even when it involves personal and political pain.

Iswaran's Conviction and Sentencing

Iswaran, 62, was convicted under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which addresses corrupt practices involving public servants, after pleading guilty to five amended charges, with 30 other charges taken into consideration. Most of the charges related to his acceptance of valuable gifts while holding various ministerial positions, including Minister for Transport and Minister for Trade and Industry. The gifts Iswaran received included tickets to musical and sporting events, bottles of whisky and wine, and a Brompton bicycle. Notably, he received Formula 1 race tickets from Ong Beng Seng, majority shareholder of Singapore GP, and gifts from construction boss Lum Kok Seng. Both businessmen had dealings with the ministries Iswaran was overseeing at the time. For example, Lum’s company, Lum Chang Building Contractors, secured a S$325 million contract with the Land Transport Authority in 2016, a period during which Iswaran held senior governmental roles. Ong’s company was involved in contracts related to the Singapore Grand Prix, an event overseen by a steering committee chaired by Iswaran. However, the prosecution accepted that Iswaran did not directly interfere in the awarding of these contracts. In addition to the Section 165 charges, Iswaran was also charged with obstructing justice under Section 204A(a) of the Penal Code. After learning that the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) was investigating a flight he had taken on Ong's private jet, Iswaran requested that Singapore GP bill him for part of the flight’s cost. He eventually paid S$5,700 for the return flight, but the court viewed this as an attempt to cover up the improper nature of the trip.

Corruption Charges Dropped

In a case that garnered significant public attention, Justice Vincent Hoong sentenced Iswaran to 12 months imprisonment, a longer term than what both the prosecution and defence had recommended. Deputy Attorney-General Tai Wei Shyong had called for a sentence of six to seven months, while Iswaran’s lawyer, Davinder Singh, argued for a jail term of no more than eight weeks. Justice Hoong found that both proposed sentences were inadequate, noting that the offence’s impact on public trust and the integrity of public institutions warranted a more severe punishment. He emphasised that the higher the public servant’s position, the greater the damage to public trust when corruption is involved. Iswaran had pleaded guilty to the charges on the day of the hearing despite earlier indications that he would contest them. His guilty plea followed the prosecution's decision to amend some of the charges, dropping two counts of corruption in favour of the less severe charges under Section 165, citing evidential challenges despite the presumption clauses in Section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.