Formula 1 News: Singapore GP survives corruption of politician (Update)

Former Singapore transport minister S Iswaran pleaded guilty to reduced charges on Tuesday (Sep 24) on what was expected to be the first day of his criminal trial, after saying for months he would be contesting the case to clear his name.

The 62-year-old admitted to four charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which forbids all public servants from obtaining any valuable thing from someone involved with them in an official capacity, and one charge of obstruction of justice.

The valuables involved in all the charges include tickets to theater shows, football matches and the Singapore F1 Grand Prix, whiskey, international flights and a hotel stay. The amount involved is more than US$300,000.

Deputy Attorney-General Tai Wei Shyong said the prosecution would replace two corruption charges with two lesser charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code.

Iswaran’s defense lawyer, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, then confirmed that his client would be pleading guilty.

“My client will be taking a certain course of action in view of the fact that the prosecution is no longer proceeding on charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act,” Mr Singh told the court, presided over by Justice Vincent Hoong.

After the charges were read to him, Iswaran was asked how he pleaded to them.

“Your Honor, I plead guilty,” he said.

After the hearing was adjourned, Iswaran told reporters gathered outside the High Court that he could not comment further as the case was still before the courts.

“As you know, my lawyers have stated the position clearly. And as you’re well aware, the matter is now sub judice. So it’s not appropriate for me to say anything more. And I just want to thank all of you for coming, and let’s see how it goes,” he said.

(GMM) Singapore’s Formula 1 event appears set to survive a corruption scandal that last year engulfed the promoter of the popular night race and a high-ranking government minister.

Last year, we reported that promoter and billionaire Ong Beng Seng had been implicated in a scandal that has now led to almost 30 corruption charges levied against minister S. Iswaran.

BNN Breaking said Iswaran is accused of receiving kickbacks from Ong, including tickets to Formula 1’s original night race in the small city-state.

“Suspicions are that specific instances in September and December 2022 were likely inducements related to a contract between the Singapore GP and the Singapore Tourism Board,” the report added.

But Singapore’s trade and industry ministry has now found in an independent study that there were “no unfavorable terms to the government”.

BNN Breaking continued: “The (Ministry of Trade and Industry)’s defense of the F1 contracts underscores the event’s significance, but the final verdict in Iswaran’s case will indeed have a lasting imprint on the country’s political and sporting arenas.”

Gutzy Asia, meanwhile, published a government statement confirming: “There is nothing to suggest as of now that either the F1 contracts or other contracts were structured to the disadvantage of the government.”