Iswaran Pleads Guilty in High-Profile Corruption Trial

Former Singapore transport minister S. Iswaran has pleaded guilty to five charges, including accepting gifts worth over S$400,000 from businessmen Ong Beng Seng and David Lum, and obstructing justice. Initially facing 35 charges, Iswaran's trial marks the first time in nearly five decades that a senior political officeholder in Singapore has been tried for corruption. The prosecution is seeking a jail term of six to seven months. The high-profile case, involving gifts such as F1 tickets and private jet flights, has significant implications for Singapore's ruling People’s Action Party, known for its strong stance against corruption. Iswaran resigned in January and has reimbursed S$380,000 to the state, forfeiting the received items.