A former minister in Singapore, Subramaniam Iswaran was on Thursday sentenced to 12 months in prison for obstructing justice and accepting illegal gifts in the city-state’s first political graft trial for nearly half a century.
The former transport minister pleaded guilty to accepting gifts worth more than S$403,000 ($311,882; £234,586) while in public office, as well as obstructing the course of justice.
Iswaran, known for helping bring Formula One to the financial hub, was hit this year with 35 charges mostly related to graft in a nation often cited as one of the world’s least corrupt.
Justice Vincent Hoong, who oversaw the case in Singapore’s High Court, emphasised that Iswaran’s crimes were an abuse of power and jeopardised people’s trust in public institutions.
Iswaran’s sentence was more severe than the six to seven months requested by the prosecution, which Hoong said would have been “manifestly inadequate” given the impact of the case on public trust.
“Trust and confidence in public institutions are the bedrock of effective governance, which can all too easily be undermined by the appearance that an individual public servant has fallen below the standards of integrity and accountability,” Hoong said on Thursday when he delivered the sentence.
He also noted that Iswaran seemed to think he would be acquitted.
“In his letter to the prime minister, he stated he rejected (the charges) and expressed his strong belief he would be acquitted,” said Justice Hoong.
“Thus I have difficulty accepting these are indicative of his remorse.”
Iswaran was convicted last week for obstruction of justice and accepting illegal gifts after prosecutors moved forward with five lesser charges only, including some related to a billionaire property tycoon.
His defense team asked for Iswaran’s jail term to commence on October 7, local media reported but the court then asked the 62-year-old to surrender himself at 4 pm (0800 GMT) at the States Court that day.
Iswaran quit in January after being formally notified of the charges, which include accepting gifts worth more than $300,000.
In a resignation letter at the time, he said he would clear his name in court.
Iswaran has paid back around $295,000 in financial gain to the government and gifts including a Brompton bicycle were also seized from him, the attorney general’s office said.
The charges include obstruction of justice relating to an attempt to block Singaporean authorities from investigating a business class flight at the expense of Malaysian hotel tycoon Ong Beng Seng, one of Singapore’s richest residents.
The other four charges relate to his receipt of gifts from Ong, the managing director of Hotel Properties Limited, and a top director at a construction company Lum Kok Seng, including bottles of whiskey and golf clubs.
Neither businessman has faced punishment.
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