Singaporean minister charged for corruption, as police say he took tickets to F1 races as bribes
ABC News
Singaporean Transport Minister S
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Singaporean Transport Minister S. Iswaran was charged Thursday in the first ministerial corruption case ever seen in the Asian financial hub known for squeaky clean government.
The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau said in a statement that Iswaran, 61, faces 27 charges: two for corruption, 24 for receiving gifts as a public servant, and one for obstructing the course of justice. Iswaran said after leaving court that he had resigned from his post on Tuesday, and denied the charges.
He was alleged to have obtained gratification in kind worth nearly SG$385,000 ($286,000) between 2015 and 2022 from Malaysian property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, in part to help the Singapore-based businessman advance his business interests.
The gifts included free tickets for Singapore's Formula 1 Grand Prix, as well as football matches and musicals in the U.K. Ong owns the right to the local F1 race, and Iswaran was chairman of and later advisor to the Grand Prix's steering committee.
"I reject the charges and the allegations against me. I am innocent and will now focus on clearing my name,” Iswaran said in a statement.
