Iswaran case may deter private-sector individuals from taking public appointments

IN THE wake of former minister S Iswaran’s trial, private-sector individuals may be deterred from sitting on public sector boards – as they would be subject to laws that apply to public servants, said lawyers and legal observers.

Iswaran’s trial has raised awareness of Section 165 of the Penal Code, which prohibits public officers from obtaining gifts from parties with whom they have official business dealings.

And this does not apply only to government employees. Section 21 of the Penal Code determines whether an individual is considered a public servant for the purposes of criminal offences, lawyers and legal observers told The Business Times.