Latest news with #Iswaran
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Singapore PM Wong warns lawmakers on perceptions of impropriety
By Chanyaporn Chanjaroen (Bloomberg) — Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong told ruling party lawmakers to be vigilant in their interactions to avoid perceptions of impropriety. In a letter laying out so-called Rules of Prudence for the People's Action Party's parliamentarians after the 3 May general election, Wong said they should separate their public political position from private, professional or business interests, and be wary of potential conflicts. He also told them to be 'shrewd in assessing the motives of people' who try to get close to them. 'A few will seek to cultivate you to obtain benefits for themselves or their companies, to gain respectability by association with you, or to get you to influence ministries and statutory boards to make decisions in their favour,' Wong wrote. 'Both in conduct and perception, you must stand above any hint of favour or influence.' The PAP won the election with close to 66% of the national vote, a wider margin than in 2020. A few days later, three of the newly-elected politicians defended themselves after photos from around 2020 showing them dining with a man who was convicted last year in Singapore's largest money-laundering case surfaced. Wong did not mention the case in the letter and has not publicly commented on the photographs. Last year, former transport minister S Iswaran was jailed for obtaining valuable items including tickets to musicals and for obstruction of justice. 'Gift hampers on festive occasions, dinners and entertainment, concert tickets, and personal favors big and small are just some of the countless social lubricants which such people use to ingratiate themselves to MPs and make you obligated to them,' Wong said. Wong also urged MPs not to depend heavily on a few large donors and to check on the background of the donors. The PAP, whose distinct white outfits are meant to symbolise purity and its politicians' incorruptibility, has ruled the island since before the country's independence in 1965. More stories like this are available on ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
New Paper
28-05-2025
- New Paper
Corruption reports and cases in S'pore fell to all-time low in 2024
Singapore in 2024 recorded its lowest number of corruption cases yet, both in terms of reports lodged and new cases registered. The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) received 177 corruption-related reports in 2024, of which 75 were registered for investigation, it said in its release of its annual statistics on May 28. In comparison, there were 215 reports and 81 cases in 2023, and 447 reports and 118 cases in 2016. Of the 177 reports it received in 2024, CPIB said 61 of them were made anonymously. A total of 133 people were prosecuted in court in 2024 for offences investigated by CPIB. The conviction rate for CPIB cases in 2024 was 97 per cent, with four acquittals and three cases pending appeal hearings. Despite the low numbers last year, the national anti-graft agency said recent high-profile corruption cases show that Singapore cannot let its guard down. Citing the cases involving former Transport Minister S. Iswaran and the couple from Citiraya, CPIB said it "will not hesitate to take firm enforcement action against all perpetrators who engage in corrupt activities, including those who try to launder their tainted proceeds". Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months' jail in October 2024 after pleading guilty to five charges. He had obtained valuable items as a public servant from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng. He had also obstructed the course of justice by making payment of $5,700 for a business-class flight he had taken from Doha to Singapore in 2022 at Ong's expense. Iswaran is expected to be released soon, while Ong's case is still before the courts. In the Citiraya case, the then-president of recycling company Citiraya Industries Ng Teck Lee and his wife Thor Chwee Hwa absconded in 2005 when CPIB investigated them for embezzling some US$51 million ($65.7 million). They were arrested in Johor Bahru in 2024 and brought back to Singapore to be charged. Their cases are still before the courts. The number of public sector cases remained low, accounting for just seven of the 75 cases registered for investigation. The remaining 68 cases were from the private sector. Among these, 12 involved officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, the National Environment Agency, and the Singapore Police Force rejecting bribes offered by private sector individuals. Singapore was ranked the least corrupt country in the Asia-Pacific region in 2024 in global anti-graft watchdog Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report released in February. This was a first for Singapore in 14 years. Singapore was also ranked the third-least corrupt nation in the world, which is the Republic's highest position since 2020, after Denmark and Finland. As part of its release, CPIB also published the results of a 2024 Public Perception Survey, which showed 97 per cent of respondents rating corruption control efforts in Singapore as Good, Very Good or Excellent. This is an increase from 96 per cent and 94 per cent in 2022 and 2020, respectively. CPIB said heavy punishment, effective laws, political determination and a zero-tolerance culture for corruption were cited in the survey as the top factors contributing to the low corruption rate in Singapore. "CPIB continues to take firm enforcement action without fear or favour in corruption cases involving both the public and private sectors," it said. "Singapore's corruption situation remains firmly under control. We will continue to strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders to enhance prevention efforts and amplify anti-corruption messages."
The Star
28-05-2025
- The Star
Corruption reports and cases in Singapore fell to all-time low in 2024
A total of 133 people were prosecuted in court in 2024 for offences investigated by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). - Photo: ST file SINGAPORE: Singapore in 2024 recorded its lowest number of corruption cases yet, both in terms of reports lodged and new cases registered. The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) received 177 corruption-related reports in 2024, of which 75 were registered for investigation, it said in its release of its annual statistics on Wednesday (May 28). In comparison, there were 215 reports and 81 cases in 2023, and 447 reports and 118 cases in 2016. Of the 177 reports it received in 2024, CPIB said 61 of them were made anonymously. A total of 133 people were prosecuted in court in 2024 for offences investigated by CPIB. The conviction rate for CPIB cases in 2024 was 97 per cent, with four acquittals and three cases pending appeal hearings. Despite the lower numbers last year, the national anti-graft agency said recent high-profile corruption cases show that Singapore cannot let its guard down. Citing the cases involving former transport minister S. Iswaran and the couple from Citiraya, CPIB said it 'will not hesitate to take firm enforcement action against all perpetrators who engage in corrupt activities, including those who try to launder their tainted proceeds'. Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months' jail in October 2024 after pleading guilty to five charges. He had obtained valuable items as a public servant from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng. He had also obstructed the course of justice by making payment of $5,700 for a business-class flight he had taken from Doha to Singapore in 2022 at Ong's expense. Iswaran, who is currently under home detention, is expected to be released soon, while Ong's case is still before the courts. In the Citiraya case, the then-president of recycling company Citiraya Industries Ng Teck Lee and his wife Thor Chwee Hwa absconded in 2005 when CPIB investigated them for allegedly embezzling some US$51 million (S$65.7 million). They were arrested in Johor Bahru in 2024 and brought back to Singapore to be charged. Their cases are still before the courts. The number of public sector cases remained low, accounting for just seven of the 75 cases registered for investigation. The remaining 68 cases were from the private sector. Among these, 12 involved officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, the National Environment Agency, and the Singapore Police Force rejecting bribes offered by private sector individuals. Singapore was ranked the least corrupt country in the Asia-Pacific region in 2024 in global anti-graft watchdog Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report released in February. This was a first for Singapore in 14 years. Singapore was also ranked the third-least corrupt nation in the world, which is the Republic's highest position since 2020, after Denmark and Finland. As part of its release, CPIB also published the results of a 2024 Public Perception Survey, which showed 97 per cent of respondents rating corruption control efforts in Singapore as Good, Very Good or Excellent. This is an increase from 96 per cent and 94 per cent in 2022 and 2020, respectively. CPIB said heavy punishment, effective laws, political determination and a zero-tolerance culture for corruption were cited in the survey as the top factors contributing to the low corruption rate in Singapore. 'CPIB continues to take firm enforcement action without fear or favour in corruption cases involving both the public and private sectors,' it said. 'Singapore's corruption situation remains firmly under control. We will continue to strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders to enhance prevention efforts and amplify anti-corruption messages.' - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Straits Times
Corruption reports and cases in S'pore fell to all-time low in 2024
A total of 133 people were prosecuted in court in 2024 for offences investigated by CPIB. PHOTO: ST FILE Corruption reports and cases in S'pore fell to all-time low in 2024 SINGAPORE - Singapore in 2024 recorded its lowest number of corruption cases yet , both in terms of reports lodged and new cases registered. The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) received 177 corruption-related reports in 2024, of which 75 were registered for investigation, it said in its release of its annual statistics on May 28. In comparison, there were 215 reports and 81 cases in 2023, and 447 reports and 118 cases in 2016 . Of the 177 reports it received in 2024, CPIB said 61 of them were made anonymously . A total of 133 people were prosecuted in court in 2024 for offences investigated by CPIB. The conviction rate for CPIB cases in 2024 was 97 per cent, with four acquittals and three cases pending appeal hearings. Despite the low numbers last year , the national anti-graft agency said recent high-profile corruption cases show that Singapore cannot let its guard down. Citing the cases involving former Transport Minister S. Iswaran and the couple from Citiraya, CPIB said it 'will not hesitate to take firm enforcement action against all perpetrators who engage in corrupt activities, including those who try to launder their tainted proceeds'. Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months' jail in October 2024 after pleading guilty to five charges. He had obtained valuable items as a public servant from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng. He had also obstructed the course of justice by making payment of $5,700 for a business-class flight he had taken from Doha to Singapore in 2022 at Ong's expense. Iswaran is expected to be released soon, while Ong's case is still before the courts. In the Citiraya case, the then-president of recycling company Citiraya Industries Ng Teck Lee and his wife Thor Chwee Hwa absconded in 2005 when CPIB investigated them for embezzling some US$51 million ($65.7 million) . They were arrested in Johor Bahru in 2024 and brought back to Singapore to be charged. Their cases are still before the courts. The number of public sector cases remained low, accounting for just seven of the 75 cases registered for investigation. The remaining 68 cases were from the private sector. Among these, 12 involved officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, the National Environment Agency, and the Singapore Police Force rejecting bribes offered by private sector individuals. Singapore was ranked the least corrupt country in the Asia-Pacific region in 2024 in global anti-graft watchdog Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report released in February. This was a first for Singapore in 14 years. Singapore was also ranked the third-least corrupt nation in the world, which is the Republic's highest position since 2020, after Denmark and Finland. As part of its release, CPIB also published the results of a 2024 Public Perception Survey, which showed 97 per cent of respondents rating corruption control efforts in Singapore as Good, Very Good or Excellent. This is an increase from 96 per cent and 94 per cent in 2022 and 2020, respectively. CPIB said heavy punishment, effective laws, political determination and a zero-tolerance culture for corruption were cited in the survey as the top factors contributing to the low corruption rate in Singapore. 'CPIB continues to take firm enforcement action without fear or favour in corruption cases involving both the public and private sectors,' it said. 'Singapore's corruption situation remains firmly under control. We will continue to strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders to enhance prevention efforts and amplify anti-corruption messages.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
New Paper
10-05-2025
- Business
- New Paper
Ong Beng Seng granted permission to visit 3 more cities while overseas
Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, who is currently overseas, has been given permission to travel to three more cities but the agreed-upon duration of his trip remains unchanged. Ong, who is facing charges in a case linked to former transport minister S. Iswaran, had earlier been granted approval by the court to leave Singapore from April 28 to May 16 to travel to the US, Britain and Italy for work and medical reasons. On May 9, a Singapore Courts spokeswoman said in response to queries from The Straits Times that the court approved Ong's application to vary some of the destinations to include Venice and Bari in Italy, and Dubrovnik, a city in Croatia. These three cities were added to the list of locations that Ong had said he was expected to visit, which includes London, Boston, Miami, New York and Florence. The spokeswoman added that the terms of his bail while he is overseas remain unchanged. As part of the conditions, the 79-year-old Malaysian must provide the full details of where he will be staying and his contact numbers to the investigating officer (IO) handling his case or an officer acting under the latter. Ong must also remain contactable by the IO and surrender his passport to the officer within 24 hours upon return to Singapore. His current bail of $800,000 has been doubled to $1.6 million. In 2024, the billionaire was charged with one count of abetment under Section 165, which makes it an offence for a public servant to accept anything of value from any person with whom he is involved in an official capacity without payment or with inadequate payment. Ong is known as the man who brought Formula One (F1) to Singapore in 2008 - the first night race in the sport's history. Iswaran was chairman of the F1 steering committee and the Government's chief negotiator with Singapore GP on business matters related to the race. The two men had worked in the mid-2000s to convince then Formula One Group chief executive Bernie Ecclestone to make Singapore the venue for the sport's first night race. According to court documents, the businessman in December 2022 allegedly instigated Iswaran's flight on Ong's private plane from Singapore to Doha. The flight was valued at US$7,700 (S$10,400), according to court documents. Ong is also said to have arranged for Iswaran a one-night stay at Four Seasons Hotel Doha, valued at $4,737.63, and a business class flight from Doha to Singapore, valued at $5,700. He had allegedly alerted Iswaran that the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau had seized the flight manifest for the December 2022 trip, prompting Iswaran to ask the tycoon to bill him for the flight to avoid investigations. For this alleged offence, he was given a second charge - the abetment of obstruction of justice. Iswaran, 62, faced a total of 35 charges, most of which involved Ong. Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months' jail in October 2024 for, among other things, obtaining a number of valuable items from Ong. ST earlier reported that Ong intends to plead guilty. His next pre-trial conference is on June 10. If convicted of abetting a public servant in obtaining gifts, an offender can be jailed for up to two years, fined or both. If convicted of abetting obstruction of justice, an offender can be jailed for up to seven years, fined or both.
