ISWARAN ALLEGEDLY RECEIVED $384K OF GRATIFICATION, PRIVATE JET FLIGHTS, SHOW TICKETS

Former Singapore Minister of Transport S. Iswaran was charged in court earlier today with a staggering 27 charges for a number of offences, including corruption, obstruction of justice.

According to Channel NewsAsia, Iswaran had allegedly received more than $384,000 of gratification that included tickets to football matches, flights on private jets, tickets to shows and F1 races.

The Corrupt Practices and Investigation Bureau also issued a statement on the situation (see below).

Corruption Charges: A Closer Look

The first corruption charge accuses Iswaran of corruptly obtaining gratification totaling S$145,434 from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng. This was allegedly in exchange for advancing Mr. Ong’s business interests related to a contract between Singapore GP and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

The second corruption charge details Iswaran’s alleged receipt of gratification from Mr. Ong in December 2022. This included an outbound flight on Mr. Ong’s private plane, a night’s stay in Four Seasons Doha, and a business class flight from Doha to Singapore.

Obstruction of Justice: Repayment Details

Iswaran faces a charge of obstructing justice, related to a repayment of S$5,700 made to Singapore GP around May 25, 2023. This amount supposedly covered the cost of Iswaran’s business flight ticket from Doha to Singapore, funded by Mr. Ong.

Obtaining Valuables as a Public Servant: Extensive Timeline

The bulk of the charges, 24 in total, span from November 2015 to December 2021. Iswaran is accused of obtaining various valuable items as a public servant during this period. These items range from tickets to shows and football matches to exclusive passes for the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix.

1. Received two tickets to the show “Thriller” valued at approximately £200 from Mr. Ong through Como Holdings (UK), acknowledging his connection with the F1 Steering Committee.
2. Obtained two tickets for the play “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” valued at around £270 from Mr. Ong through Como Holdings (UK).
3. Acquired two tickets to the football match between West Ham United FC and Everton FC (Boleyn Ground), valued at about £468, from Mr. Ong through Como Holdings UK.
4. Secured two tickets for the football match featuring Arsenal FC versus Tottenham Hotspur FC (Emirates), with an estimated worth of £550, from Mr. Ong through Como Holdings (UK).
5. Received ten Green Room tickets for the 2016 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix valued at approximately S$42,265 from Mr. Ong through Singapore GP.
6. Obtained ten Green Room tickets for the 2017 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, worth around S$42,265, from Mr. Ong through Singapore GP.
7. Acquired five Boardwalk tickets for the 2017 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, valued at about S$40,000, from Mr. Ong through Singapore GP.
8. Secured four tickets to the show “Book of Mormon” with an estimated value of £540 from Mr. Ong through Como Holdings (UK).
9. Obtained four tickets for the football match featuring Chelsea FC versus Southampton FC (Stamford Bridge), valued at approximately £700, from Mr. Ong through Como Holdings (UK).
10. Received four tickets for the shows “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Part 1” and “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Part 2” with an estimated worth of £1,000 from Mr. Ong through Como Holdings (UK).
11. Acquired four tickets to the football match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC (Emirates), valued at about £1,100, from Mr. Ong through Como Holdings (UK).
12. Secured four tickets to the show “Kinky Boots” with an approximate value of £300 from Mr. Ong through Como Holdings (UK).
13. Obtained six Twenty3 tickets for the 2018 Singapore Formula Grand Prix, valued at about S$13,193.10, from Mr. Ong through Singapore GP.
14. Received thirteen general admission tickets for the 2018 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, valued at around S$16,744, from Mr. Ong through Singapore GP.
15. Acquired four tickets to the show “The Play That Goes Wrong” with an estimated value of £380 from Mr. Ong through Como Holdings (UK).
16. Secured four tickets to the show “School of Rock” with an approximate worth of £560 from Mr. Ong through Como Holdings (UK).
17. Obtained four tickets for the football match between Chelsea FC and Manchester City FC, valued at least £120, from Mr. Ong.
18. Received four tickets to the show “Hamilton” with an estimated value of £400 from Mr. Ong through Como Holdings (UK).
19. Acquired four tickets to the show “Waitress” with an approximate worth of £524 from Mr. Ong through Como Holdings (UK).
20. Secured four tickets to the show “Betrayal” with an estimated value of £1,080 from Mr. Ong through Como Holdings (UK).
21. Obtained six Green Room tickets for the 2019 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, valued at about S$26,643, from Mr. Ong through Singapore GP.
22. Received sixteen general admission tickets for the 2019 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, worth approximately S$20,608, from Mr. Ong through Singapore GP.
23. Acquired two tickets for the show “Back to the Future” with an estimated value of £449 from Mr. Ong through Como Holdings (UK).
24. Secured two tickets to the show “&Juliet” with an approximate worth of £250 from Mr. Ong through Como Holdings (UK).

The charges highlight the connection between the obtained items and Iswaran’s official functions as the chairman of the F1 Steering Committee. Items include tickets to shows like Thriller and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, as well as football matches and exclusive Formula 1 Grand Prix passes.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the charges against Iswaran mark a significant scandal in Singapore’s political landscape. The alleged corruption and gratifications, if proven true, could have far-reaching consequences.

CPIB’s Statement

S Iswaran Charged for Corruption and Other Offences

In accordance with usual procedure, CPIB recorded Cautioned Statements from S Iswaran and informed him that he would be charged in the State Courts on 18 January 2024. Today, he was charged for the following offences:

a) 2 charges of corruption under section 6(a) read with section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

i. The first charge alleges that in September 2022, Iswaran, as a Minister of the Government of Singapore, corruptly obtained from one Ong Beng Seng (王明 星) (“Ong”) gratification with a total value of about S$145,434, as inducement for advancing Ong’s business interests in matters relating to a contract between Singapore GP Pte Ltd and the Singapore Tourism Board.

ii. The second charge alleges that in December 2022, Iswaran, as a Minister of the Government of Singapore, corruptly obtained from Ong gratification with a total value of about S$20,848.03, as inducement for advancing Ong’s business interests in matters relating to a contract between Singapore GP Pte Ltd and the Singapore Tourism Board, and a proposal for a contract with the Singapore Tourism Board.

b) 24 charges of obtaining, as a public servant, valuable things with a total value of about S$218,058.95 from Ong for no consideration, punishable under section 165 of the Penal Code committed between November 2015 to December 2021.

c) 1 charge of obstructing the course of justice, which is an offence punishable under section 204A(a) of the Penal Code, committed on or about 25 May 2023.

2. Singapore adopts a strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption. Any person who is convicted of a corruption offence under section 6 read with section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act can be fined up to $100,000 or sentenced to imprisonment of up to seven years or both. Any person who is convicted under section 165 of the Penal Code can be fined or sentenced to imprisonment of up to two years or both. Any person who is convicted under section 204A(a) of the Penal Code can be fined or sentenced to imprisonment of up to seven years or both.

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