Iswaran will not appeal 12-month jail sentence; accepts ‘full responsibility’ for offences
The ex-minister begins his sentence on Monday
FORMER transport minister S Iswaran said on Monday (Oct 7) that he will not be appealing the sentence handed down by the court.
In a statement on his Facebook page, posted just hours before he surrendered to serve his sentence, the 62-year-old wrote: “I accept that as minister what I did was wrong under Section 165. I accept full responsibility for my actions and apologise unreservedly to all Singaporeans.”
It was important, he added, that the prosecution amended the charges against him from corruption charges to those under Section 165, which prohibits public servants from accepting gifts.
A long trial that could have extended “well into 2025, and possibly beyond” had also taken a toll on his family’s well-being and weighed heavily on him, he said.
“The past 15 months have already been most difficult. With this decision, I hope that we can put the pain and anguish behind us, move forward and rebuild our lives together,” he said.
Iswaran was sentenced on Oct 3 to 12 months’ jail for his dealings with billionaire and property tycoon Ong Beng Seng and businessman David Lum Kok Seng.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
This was nearly double the six to seven months’ jail sought by the prosecution. Iswaran’s lawyers had asked for a prison term of no more than eight weeks.
Four of the charges that Iswaran was convicted of were under Section 165 for obtaining Formula 1 tickets, flights and a hotel stay, 14 bottles of alcohol, and a Brompton bike from Lum and Ong in his official capacity as a public servant.
He was also convicted of one obstruction of justice charge, for making payment to Singapore GP for a business class flight that he took from Doha to Singapore, knowing that this would make an investigation less likely.
Ong, 78, was charged in court last Friday for abetting the obstruction of justice and offences under Section 165 of the Penal Code. The case has been adjourned to Nov 15 for the pre-trial conference.
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General’s Chambers said it will not be prosecuting Lum for his dealings with the former minister.
Iswaran surrendered himself at the State Court on Monday to begin serving his sentence. Officers escorted him to the court lock-up facility for his transfer to Changi Prison.
In his statement, the former minister thanked his family, friends and grassroots leaders for their “unstinting support, faith and encouragement”. He also expressed gratitude to his lawyers and members of the public who expressed their concern and support in person or through social media.
“As this chapter of my life comes to a close, my family and I look to the future with gratitude and renewed hope,” he said.
Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.
