Singapore’s former Transport Minister, S. Iswaran, has been charged with graft in one of the most significant corruption cases involving a minister in the Asian financial hub in decades. The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) alleges that Iswaran obtained kickbacks valued at S$384,340.98 ($286,181) from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, purportedly to advance Ong’s business interests. The charges include corruption and obstructing the course of justice, with favors listed such as tickets to football matches, musicals, flights on Ong’s private plane, and tickets to the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix. Iswaran, who resigned from his position, denies the charges and faces fines or imprisonment if convicted.
This case has garnered significant attention in Singapore, a major Asian financial hub known for its low corruption levels and a clean government image. Civil servants in the country are highly paid to discourage corruption, with many cabinet ministers earning annual salaries exceeding S$1 million. In 2022, Transparency International ranked Singapore as the fifth least corrupt country in its International Corruption Perceptions Index of 180 nations.
S. Iswaran, 61, joined Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s cabinet as a junior minister in 2006, holding trade and communications portfolios before becoming the Transport Minister in May 2021. The last corruption case involving a minister in Singapore dates back to 1986 when the national development minister was probed for allegedly accepting bribes; however, the minister passed away before facing charges in court.
Singapore is scheduled to hold elections by 2025, and the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has faced challenges due to the graft probe and the resignations of two senior PAP lawmakers over an “inappropriate relationship.” The party is also anticipating a leadership transition, with Prime Minister Lee pledging to hand over leadership to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong by November. Referring to Iswaran’s case at a PAP event in November, Lee emphasized the party’s commitment to maintaining high standards after half a century in government.
