Iswaran handed 8 fresh charges of accepting valuables including Brompton bicycle, golf clubs from construction company boss Lum Kok Seng
SINGAPORE — Former transport minister S Iswaran was on Monday (March 25) handed eight new charges for allegedly obtaining a range of valuable items from the managing director of a company involved in construction works on Tanah Merah MRT Station.
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- Former transport minister S Iswaran, who is facing various bribery and corruption-related charges, was handed eight more charges
- The new charges relate to him allegedly accepting valuable items from Mr Lum Kok Seng of Lum Chang Building Contractors
- The construction company was involved in works on the Tanah Merah MRT Station
- Iswaran pleaded not guilty to the new charges and intends to contest them
- He now faces a total of 35 charges for bribery, corruption and obstructing justice
SINGAPORE — Former transport minister S Iswaran was on Monday (March 25) handed eight new charges for allegedly obtaining a range of valuable items from the managing director of a company involved in construction works on Tanah Merah MRT Station.
Iswaran is accused of obtaining items such as bottles of whisky, a Brompton bicycle and golf clubs from Mr Lum Kok Seng of Lum Chang Building Contractors.
Mr Lum is listed as the managing director of Lum Chang Holdings, parent company of Lum Chang Building Contractors, on its website.
Iswaran allegedly obtained the items, valued between S$186 and S$7,907.50 each, sometime between November 2021 and November 2022.
In a separate statement on Monday, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said that the new charges involved valuables worth about S$18,957.
A Singapore Exchange (SGX) filing in October 2016 showed that Lum Chang Holdings was awarded the contract for alteration works on Tanah Merah MRT Station and its vicinity — valued at S$325 million — by the Land Transport Authority.
The works, which began at the end of 2016, were targeted for completion this year.
In response to media queries, AGC said that it will decide on the investigations against Mr Lum Kok Seng, after the case against Iswaran has been completed, "including the presentation of evidence in court".
Lum Chang Holdings declined to comment when approached by TODAY after Monday's hearing.
In a company announcement filed on SGX later, the company said that its board of directors is aware that Mr Lum and Lum Chang Building Contractors were mentioned in news reports relating to Iswaran's latest charges.
"The board will make the appropriate announcement(s) as and when there are material developments relating to the matter," the statement added.
Iswaran, who was handed 27 charges on Jan 18, mostly related to alleged bribery and corruption, now faces a total of 35 charges.
Appearing at the State Courts on Monday, the 61-year-old pleaded not guilty to the fresh charges and intends to contest them.
The new charges come under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which forbids public servants from obtaining any valuable thing — for zero or inadequate consideration — from someone involved in any proceeding or business that is transacted by said public servants.
His previous 27 charges were all related to his interactions with Malaysian billionaire Ong Beng Seng, who owns the rights to the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix.
The prosecution comprising Chief Prosecutor Tan Kiat Pheng, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jiang Ke-Yue and Deputy Public Prosecutor Kelvin Chong attended the hearing.
Iswaran, who arrived at the State Courts slightly before 8.30am, was present with defence lawyers Rajvinder Singh, Navin Thevar and Sheiffa Safi Shirbeeni of Davinder Singh Chambers. Mr Davinder Singh, who leads the defence, was not in attendance on Monday.
Iswaran did not offer any comments to reporters waiting for him, aside from greeting them.
During the hearing, Mr Tan said that the purpose of the hearing on Monday was to tender the eight new charges and transmit them to the High Court.
Iswaran's earlier charges were also transferred to the High Court on the request of the prosecutors, who gave the reason of the case being of "strong public interest".
Mr Navin asked through the court whether the prosecution intends to press more charges against his client.
He told the court that on Jan 5, 36 cautioned statements were recorded from Iswaran, but only 27 charges were proceeded during the first mention of the case on Jan 18.
The eight charges presented on Monday were not part of the 36 cautioned statements, Mr Navin added.
Iswaran was made to report to CPIB only on March 18 to record cautioned statements. At that point, CPIB told Iswaran that no decision was yet made on whether more charges will be made against him, the defence lawyer said.
Mr Navin also said that the defence was only informed of the new charges four days later.
In response, Mr Tan from the prosecution said that the hearing was "not the right forum" for the defence to air his concerns, which should be raised at the High Court instead. He reiterated that the charges were tendered based on evidence.
Mr Navin replied that the prosecution "has not addressed" concerns that the defence has raised.
District Judge Brenda Tan allowed for the new charges to be transmitted to the High Court.
Iswaran will return to court for a criminal case disclosure conference on April 2.
ABOUT THE CASE
The former minister’s charges include 24 of obtaining valuables as a public servant, two under the Prevention of Corruption Act and one for obstruction of justice, involving more than S$384,300.
It is an offence under Section 165 of the Penal Code for a public servant to accept anything of value — without payment or with inadequate payment — from a person with whom he is involved in an official capacity.
It is not necessary to establish that the item of value was received as an inducement or a reward for it to be deemed as an offence.
Iswaran was accused of obtaining about S$218,058.95 worth of valuable things from Malaysian billionaire Ong Beng Seng, who is managing director of Hotel Properties Limited and is widely credited as the person who brought motor-racing event F1 to Singapore.
For the two charges of corruptly obtaining bribes, Iswaran allegedly received flight and event tickets, among other items, worth around S$166,280 in total in exchange for advancing Mr Ong's business interests.
The charges came after an investigation by the CPIB that began in July last year.
He was first arrested by CPIB on July 11 last year and later not allowed to carry out his duties, receiving a reduced monthly pay of S$8,500.
Parliament was told on Jan 9 that CPIB had wrapped up its probe and the case was being reviewed by Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC). He was charged at the State Courts slightly more than a week later.
Iswaran issued a statement after the hearing in January, stating that he is innocent and would focus on clearing his name.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Jan 18 that Iswaran has resigned from his positions as transport minister and member of Parliament (MP), as well as from the People’s Action Party, and that he would return his ministerial salary and MP’s allowance that he had received since the investigation began.
Iswaran’s next appearance in court was on Feb 8, where his case was transferred to the High Court.
He was granted permission on the same day to leave the country from Feb 16 to March 4 to settle his son into university.
The former minister was later given permission to remain outside of Singapore for another 16 days when he fell ill during his trip.
AGC said last Wednesday that Iswaran had returned to Singapore and surrendered his passport to the authorities.
For each charge of obtaining a valuable thing as a public servant, Iswaran can be jailed for up to two years or fined, or both.
If he is convicted of corruptly obtaining gratification under the Prevention of Corruption Act, he can be jailed for up to seven years or fined up to S$100,000, or both.
Anyone convicted of obstructing justice can be jailed for up to seven years or fined, or get both punishments.