In January 2024, Iswaran resigned as a member of the People's Action Party (PAP), Minister for Transport and his seat as Member of Parliament (MP), two days before he pleaded not guilty to 27 charges. In September 2024, Iswaran pleaded guilty, after the charges against him were amended to a lesser charge under Section 165. Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months in jail the following week.[4]
After the 2006 general election, on 1 April 2008, Iswaran was promoted to Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Trade and Industry. On 1 April 2009, he was given an additional appointment as Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Education.[16]
On 11 July 2023, Iswaran was arrested and released on bail. He also had his passport impounded.[20] The next day, he and other individuals were summoned to assist in an unspecified corruption investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). Upon being briefed on the investigation by the CPIB, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong instructed Iswaran to go on a leave of absence until the end of the investigations; Chee Hong Tat was appointed as the Acting Transport Minister.[21]
Iswaran's case is the first high-profile graft investigation involving a minister since November 1986, when Minister for National DevelopmentTeh Cheang Wan was investigated by the CPIB for bribery allegations, although Teh committed suicide a month later before he could be formally charged.[22][23] The next day, the government announced that Iswaran would not have access to government offices and had to remain in Singapore until the investigations were completed.[24]
On 2 August, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that Iswaran had been interdicted with a reduced monthly pay of S$8,500 as per civil service guidelines, given that there are no specific provisions that cover ministers under investigation.[25] Until his resignation, Iswaran still drew a monthly salary of S$16,000 as an MP as Parliament had not tabled a motion to remove it.[25]
On 9 January 2024, investigations by the CPIB against Iswaran were completed, was being reviewed by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC). Writing in a reply to non-constituency Member of ParliamentHazel Poa, Public Service Minister-in-Charge and Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said that the CPIB had completed a “robust and thorough” investigation and assured that the case "will be put through the due legal process".[26]
On 18 January, Iswaran was charged in the State Courts of Singapore with 27 charges relating to bribery and corruption.[27] The CPIB, alleged that Iswaran obtained kickbacks valued at S$384,340.98 from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, in part to advance Ong's business interests.[28][29] Iswaran subsequently resigned from the PAP, and stepped down as Transport Minister and West Coast GRC MP.[30] Iswaran was defended by Senior Counsel Davinder Singh.[31]
On 25 September 2024, Iswaran pleaded guilty to 4 charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code 1871 for receiving gifts while in office as well as 1 charge of obstruction of justice. He was convicted of all 5 charges on the same day. The sentencing hearing was scheduled for 3 October 2024. The prosecution sought a custodial sentence of 6 to 7 months whereas the defence contended that no more than 8 weeks' imprisonment should be imposed.[34][35][36] On 3 October, Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months in prison, a term higher than the requested sentencing by both the prosecution and the defence.[37] Within almost 50 years, Iswaran is also the first minister to serve a jail term following Wee Toon Boon back in 1975 for corruption charges.
Personal life
Iswaran is married to Kay Mary Taylor. They have a daughter and two sons.[38]
^"Alumni on the move". University of Adelaide. Retrieved 12 July 2023. Subramaniam Iswaran [B Ec 1985, B Ec (Hons] 1986) will be appointed as Minister of State in the Ministry of Trade and Industry in the Singapore Cabinet.
^Mahbubani, Kishore (2013). Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy: Building a Global Policy School in Asia. World Scientific: Singapore. p. 4. ISBN978-9814417228.
^"Speakers Bio - S. Iswaran". Singapore International Energy Week. Retrieved 2 March 2024. Mr Iswaran has been elected as a Member of Parliament in five General Elections since 2 January 1997. Prior to his Cabinet appointment in 2006, he served on several Government Parliamentary Committees, and as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament from September 2004 to June 2006.
The party affiliation of each member is indicated right after the constituency/seat he or she represents. PAP: People's Action Party; WP: The Workers' Party; PSP: Progress Singapore Party All of the leaders of the respective GRCs are in underline. MP(s) who is go on a leave of absence is in italic. NMPs do not belong to any party.
The party affiliation of each member is indicated right after the constituency he or she represents. PAP: People's Action Party; WP: The Workers' Party NMPs do not belong to any party. There were two terms of NMPs in this parliament, with nine NMPs in each term.
The party affiliation of each member is indicated right after the constituency he or she represents. PAP: People's Action Party; SPP: Singapore People's Party; WP: The Workers' Party For NCMPs, Gerald Giam and Yee Jenn Jong are from the WP, while Lina Loh is from the SPP. NMPs do not belong to any party. There were two terms of NMPs in this parliament, with nine NMPs in each term.
The party affiliation of each member is indicated right after the constituency he or she represents. PAP: People's Action Party; SDA: Singapore Democratic Alliance; WP: The Workers' Party NMPs do not belong to any party. There were two terms of NMPs in this parliament, with nine NMPs in each term.
.jpg)
_20221111_110540.jpg)
