Singapore’s former Minister for Communications and Information, S. Iswaran, has been convicted of corruption, dealing a blow to the country’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP). Iswaran was found guilty of accepting gifts, including whisky and a luxury Brompton bike, from businessmen Ong Kean Seng and Lum Yin Fong.
Iswaran resigned from his position before the charges were filed. His trial comes shortly after Singapore’s new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong took office, succeeding Lee Hsien Loong after a 20-year tenure.
Ong holds the rights to a major race, while Iswaran chaired the event’s steering committee. The Attorney-General’s Chambers will determine whether Ong and Lum will face charges after Iswaran’s case concludes.
This scandal marks the first major corruption case involving a minister since Wee Toon Boon’s conviction in 1975. Singapore’s ministers are among the world’s highest-paid, and the PAP prides itself on its clean image.
The verdict has sparked public debate about accountability and transparency within the government.
