SINGAPORE: In the latest surprise move in former transport minister S Iswaran’s criminal case, a High Court judge handed a prison sentence that was lengthier than what the prosecution and defence asked.
The 12-month jail term was roughly six times the eight weeks asked by Iswaran’s top legal team, and nearly twice the six to seven months requested by the prosecution, which was led by no less than a Deputy Attorney-General.
The jail term was imposed on five charges, including four counts of Section 165 for acquiring assets from two businessmen connected to his official role and one act of delaying justice by failing to reimburse the cost of a flight on time. An additional 30 charges under Section 165 were considered.
Across all accusations, Iswaran confessed taking S$403,300 in assets from Singapore GP majority shareholder Ong Beng Seng and construction boss Lum Kok Seng during a seven-year period.
These include tickets to musicals, Formula One races, and football games, as well as wine and a Brompton bicycle given to him on his 60th birthday. CNA spoke with some lawyers and an academic on the implications or relevance of the jail sentence issued, and what it could mean.