Former Singapore Transport Minister S Iswaran, of Indian origin, is facing an additional eight charges of corruption, bringing the total number of charges against him to 35. Iswaran, 61, pleaded not guilty to the new charges, which were filed under Section 165 of the Penal Code.
These charges stem from allegations that Iswaran received valuable items such as bottles of whisky, golf clubs, and a Brompton bicycle from a man named Lum Kok Seng. The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) stated that the total value of these items is SGD 18,956.94 (USD 14,080).
The transactions in question occurred during Iswaran’s tenure as the Transport Minister, while Lum had business dealings with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) through his company Lum Chang Building Contractors. Specifically, the charges relate to the period between November 2021 and November 2022, when Lum was involved in a contract (T315) for addition and alteration works at the Tanah Merah Station and existing viaducts.
Iswaran had previously faced 27 charges in January, including corruption charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and charges of obtaining valuables as a public servant under the Penal Code. These charges were related to his interactions with property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, chairman of race promoter Singapore GP and owner of the Singapore Grand Prix rights. Iswaran had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The recent development comes shortly after Iswaran returned to Singapore from an authorized trip to Australia, which was extended due to his health issues. The case has drawn significant attention in Singapore’s political and legal circles, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat corruption in the country’s public sector.
Sources By Agencies
