Iswaran rejects charges against him, reiterates innocence

Tessa Oh

Published Thu, Jan 18, 2024 · 01:27 PM

FORMER transport minister S Iswaran on Thursday (Jan 18) said he rejects the charges and allegations levied against him, and will focus on clearing his name.

The former People’s Action Party (PAP) member was charged in court earlier that day with multiple offences, including corruption. He pleaded not guilty to all 27 charges.

Restating his innocence, Iswaran said in his statement that he submitted his letter of resignation to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday “even without being asked to do so”.

“I resigned as Cabinet Minister, Member of Parliament, and as a member of the PAP because I believe it was the right thing to do,” he said.

Iswaran also said he would return all the monies he received by way of salary as a minister, and his allowance as an MP from the commencement of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau probe last July.

“My family and I decided to return these monies because we believe it is the right thing to do. We cannot in all good conscience keep the monies when I was unable, on account of the investigations, to discharge my duties as a minister and MP in that period,” he added.