Court Transfers Case to High Court Due to Public Interest
Former Singapore Transport Minister S. Iswaran has been granted permission to leave the country from February 16 to March 4 to assist his son in settling into an Australian university. The decision comes three weeks after he was charged with 27 counts of corruption and other offences, all of which he has denied.
Despite no objections in principle to his request, the prosecution imposed several conditions, including an additional cash bail of S$500,000 on top of his existing S$800,000 agency bail. Iswaran must also provide authorities with his travel itinerary and overseas address, remain contactable throughout his trip, and surrender his passport within 24 hours of returning to Singapore.
The former minister faces allegations of receiving benefits from businessman Ong Beng Seng, the tycoon credited with bringing Formula 1 to Singapore. His charges include corruption, accepting valuable items while in public office, and obstructing justice. The Attorney-General’s Chambers has stated that a decision regarding Ong’s involvement will be made after Iswaran’s case is concluded.
Following his arrest in July 2023, Iswaran stepped down from his ministerial and parliamentary roles. He had been receiving a reduced monthly salary of S$8,500 but later pledged to return all funds earned since the start of the investigation.
With the case now transferred to the High Court due to strong public interest, Iswaran’s legal team has pushed for an early trial to expedite the proceedings. The outcome of this high-profile case could have significant implications for Singapore’s political and legal landscape.
