By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-10-07 06:23:05 | Updated at 2024-10-07 08:20:20
2 hours ago
Singapore’s former transport minister S Iswaran has said he will not appeal the longer-than-expected 12-month sentence handed down by the court, stressing that he takes “full responsibility” for his actions.
In a statement on Monday, he wrote that he would begin his one-year jail term on the same day and accepted that he had breached Section 165 of Singapore’s Penal Code, which forbids public servants from accepting valuables from individuals engaged in business dealings with the government.
“I accept full responsibility for my actions and apologise unreservedly to all Singaporeans. My family’s well-being and the emotional toll on my loved ones of a long trial extending well into 2025, and possibly beyond, has also weighed heavily on me. The past 15 months have already been most difficult,” he said.
“With this decision, I hope that we can put the pain and anguish behind us, move forward and rebuild our lives together.”
Iswaran’s case, which sent shock waves through the city state when it first came to light last year, marked the first time a cabinet minister had been sentenced in Singapore since independence in 1965.
He accepted gifts valued at around S$400,000 (US$306,000) including tickets to the Singapore Grand Prix, Premier League matches, West End musicals, luxury whiskey, golf clubs, and even a private jet ride. Iswaran did not declare these gifts nor pay for them at the time.
