S Iswaran accused of receiving presents value $14,000 from particular person who had enterprise dealings with Transport Ministry.
Singapore’s former Transport Minister S Iswaran has been slapped with eight new prices in a uncommon corruption case involving the city-state’s ruling Individuals’s Motion Celebration (PAP).
The fees relate to allegations that Iswaran obtained invaluable items value about 18,956 Singapore {dollars} ($14,077) from a person who had enterprise dealings with the Transport Ministry, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) stated in a press release on Monday.
“Singapore adopts a strict zero-tolerance strategy in the direction of corruption,” the CPIB stated.
“Any one that is convicted beneath part 165 of the Penal Code will be fined or sentenced to imprisonment of as much as two years or each.”
The alleged presents obtained by Iswaran embrace whisky, golf golf equipment and a Brompton bicycle, native media reported.
The fees come after Iswaran was in January charged with 27 corruption offences, most of them associated to his alleged receipt of presents from Malaysian billionaire Ong Beng Seng.
Ong, who performed a key function in bringing the Singapore Grand Prix to the city-state in 2008 whereas Iswaran was in authorities, is alleged to have given the previous minister tickets to West Finish exhibits and soccer matches in alternate for advancing his enterprise pursuits.
Iswaran, who stepped down as an MP and resigned from the PAP, denied the fees on the time and promised to clear his title.
Corruption scandals are uncommon in Singapore, which is understood for its strict legal guidelines and difficult enforcement.
Singapore was ranked the fifth-least corrupt nation within the 2023 Transparency Worldwide Corruption Perceptions Index, following Norway, New Zealand, Finland and Denmark.
The case involving Iswaran is the primary corruption probe regarding a minister since 1986, when then Minister for Nationwide Growth Teh Cheang Wan was accused of accepting bribes from companies.
Teh died earlier than prices had been introduced in opposition to him.
