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S. Iswaran

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In this Indian name, the name Subramaniam is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Iswaran.
S. Iswaran
சுப்பிரமணியம் ஈஸ்வரன்
Iswaran in 2016
Minister for Transport
In office
15 May 2021 – 18 January 2024
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
Preceded byOng Ye Kung
Succeeded byChee Hong Tat
Minister for Communications and Information
In office
1 May 2018 – 14 May 2021
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
Preceded byYaacob Ibrahim
Succeeded byJosephine Teo
Minister for Trade and Industry
(Industry)
In office
1 October 2015 – 30 April 2018
Serving with Lim Hng Kiang (Trade)
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
Preceded byLim Hng Kiang
Succeeded byChan Chun Sing
(as Minister for Trade and Industry)
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office
In office
21 May 2011 – 30 September 2015
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
Preceded byLim Hwee Hua
Succeeded byDesmond Lee
Josephine Teo
Second Minister for Home Affairs
In office
21 May 2011 – 30 September 2015
Serving with Masagos Zulkifli
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
MinisterTeo Chee Hean
Preceded byK. Shanmugam
Succeeded byDesmond Lee (2017)
Second Minister for Trade and Industry
In office
21 May 2011 – 30 September 2015
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
MinisterLim Hng Kiang
Member of the Singapore Parliament
for West Coast GRC
(West Coast)
In office
3 November 2001 – 16 January 2024
Preceded byWan Soon Bee
Succeeded byVacant
Member of the Singapore Parliament
for West Coast GRC
(Pasir Panjang)
In office
2 January 1997 – 18 October 2001
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Personal details
Born (1962-06-14) 14 June 1962 (age 62)[1]
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India[2]
Political partyIndependent
Other political
affiliations		People's Action Party
(1997–2024)
SpouseKay Mary Taylor
Children3
Alma materNational Junior College University of Adelaide (BEc)
Harvard University (MPA)
Criminal statusin prison
Conviction(s)
Criminal penalty
Date apprehended
11 July 2023
Imprisoned atChangi Prison
16:00:00, 7 October 2024 (+08:00) (2024-10-07T16:00:00+08:00)

Subramaniam Iswaran[3] (Tamil: சுப்பிரமணியம் ஈஸ்வரன், romanized: Cuppiramaṇiyam Īsvaraṉ; born 14 June 1962), commonly known as S. Iswaran, is a Singaporean former politician who served as Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations between 2018 and 2024, and Minister for Transport between 2021 and 2024.[1] A former member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he was the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the West Coast division of West Coast GRC between 2001 and 2024.

On 16 January 2024, Iswaran resigned as a member of the People's Action Party (PAP), Minister for Transport and his seat as Member of Parliament (MP) for West Coast GRC, two days before he pleaded not guilty to 27 charges.

On 24 September 2024, Iswaran pleaded guilty, after the charges against him were amended to a lesser charge under Section 165. Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months in jail the following week.[4]

Early life and education

[edit]

Iswaran was born in 1962 in Chennai, India, later moving to Singapore.[5] Iswaran attended Saint Andrew's School and National Junior College[6] before graduating from the University of Adelaide with first class honours, where he read economics, which was provided for by a Colombo Plan scholarship.[2] He also holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University.[7]

Career

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Prior to entering politics, Iswaran was Senior Vice President and Managing Director at Temasek Holdings (2003–2006), Director for International Trade at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA), and Director of Strategic Development at Singapore Technologies (1996–1998).[8][9]

Throughout his political career, Iswaran concurrently held directorships in several organisations, including Quintiles Transnational, Sunningdale Tech,[10] Shin Corporation,[11] SciGen, PSA International, Sembcorp Industries,[12][13] and Hyflux.[9]

Political career

[edit]
Minister for Transport S. Iswaran visiting Orchard MRT station at the TEL 3 open house

Iswaran made his political debut in the 1997 general election when he contested as part of a four-member People's Action Party (PAP) team in West Coast GRC and won with 70.14% of the vote, becoming a Member of Parliament.[14]

From 2004 to 2006, Iswaran was Deputy Speaker of Parliament.[15] On 1 July 2006, he was appointed Minister of State at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.[16]

After the 2006 general election, on 1 April 2008, Iswaran was promoted to Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Trade and Industry. On 1 April 2009, he was given an additional appointment as Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Education.[16]

Following the 2011 general election, Iswaran was promoted to full Minister in the Cabinet and appointed Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs, and Second Minister for Trade and Industry. After the 2015 general election, on 1 October 2015, he relinquished his three positions and took up the portfolio of Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) alongside Lim Hng Kiang, who was Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade).[17] On 1 May 2018, he became Minister for Communications and Information, however he did continue in the Ministry of Trade and Industry as Minister In-Charge of Trade Relations.[18]

After the 2020 general election, Iswaran continued as Minister in the Ministry of Communications and Information. On 15 May 2021, after a Cabinet reshuffle, Iswaran became Minister for Transport while continuing his appointment as Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations.[19]

Corruption conviction

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Main article: Prosecution of S. Iswaran

On 11 July 2023, Iswaran was arrested and released on bail. He also had his passport impounded.[20] The next day, he and other individuals were summoned to assist in an unspecified corruption investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). Upon being briefed on the investigation by the CPIB, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong instructed Iswaran to go on a leave of absence until the end of the investigations; Chee Hong Tat was appointed as the Acting Transport Minister.[21]

Iswaran's case is the first high-profile graft investigation involving a minister since November 1986, when Minister for National Development Teh Cheang Wan was investigated by the CPIB for bribery allegations, although Teh committed suicide a month later before he could be formally charged.[22][23] The next day, the government announced that Iswaran would not have access to government offices and had to remain in Singapore until the investigations were completed.[24]

On 2 August, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that Iswaran had been interdicted with a reduced monthly pay of S$8,500 as per civil service guidelines, given that there are no specific provisions that cover ministers under investigation.[25] Until his resignation, Iswaran still drew a monthly salary of S$16,000 as an MP as Parliament had not tabled a motion to remove it.[25]

On 9 January 2024, investigations by the CPIB against Iswaran were completed, was being reviewed by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC). Writing in a reply to non-constituency Member of Parliament Hazel Poa, Public Service Minister-in-Charge and Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said that the CPIB had completed a “robust and thorough” investigation and assured that the case "will be put through the due legal process".[26]

On 18 January, Iswaran was charged in the State Courts of Singapore with 27 charges relating to bribery and corruption.[27] The CPIB, alleged that Iswaran obtained kickbacks valued at S$384,340.98 from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, in part to advance Ong's business interests.[28][29] Iswaran subsequently resigned from the PAP, and stepped down as Transport Minister and West Coast GRC MP.[30] Iswaran was defended by Senior Counsel Davinder Singh.[31]

On 25 March, Iswaran was handed 8 new charges over obtaining $19k in items including a Brompton bicycle, golf clubs, from Lum Chang Building Contractors Managing Director Lum Kok Seng, which is linked to a contract between Lum Chang Building Contractors and the Land Transport Authority for addition and alteration works to Tanah Merah MRT station and existing viaducts.[32][33]

On 25 September 2024, Iswaran pleaded guilty to 4 charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code 1871 for receiving gifts while in office as well as 1 charge of obstruction of justice. He was convicted of all 5 charges on the same day. The sentencing hearing was scheduled for 3 October 2024. The prosecution sought a custodial sentence of 6 to 7 months whereas the defence contended that no more than 8 weeks' imprisonment should be imposed.[34][35][36] On 3 October, Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months in prison, a term higher than the requested sentencing by both the prosecution and the defence.[37] Within almost 50 years, Iswaran is also the first minister to serve a jail term following Wee Toon Boon back in 1975 for corruption charges.

Personal life

[edit]

Iswaran is married to Kay Mary Taylor. They have a daughter and two sons.[38]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "PARL | MP". www.parliament.gov.sg.
  2. ^ a b "Scholar with late nights ahead". The Straits Times.
  3. ^ "Alumni on the move". University of Adelaide. Retrieved 12 July 2023. Subramaniam Iswaran [B Ec 1985, B Ec (Hons] 1986) will be appointed as Minister of State in the Ministry of Trade and Industry in the Singapore Cabinet.
  4. ^ "Live: Iswaran gets jail after pleading guilty to 5 offences". www.channelnewsasia.com. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Scholar with late nights ahead". The Straits Times.
  6. ^ "S Iswaran tells Mothership how to save a country in an unprecedented crisis: 1) Jobs 2) Jobs 3) Jobs". mothership.sg. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  7. ^ Mahbubani, Kishore (2013). Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy: Building a Global Policy School in Asia. World Scientific: Singapore. p. 4. ISBN 978-9814417228.
  8. ^ "S. Iswaran: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  9. ^ a b "RESIGNATION OF S ISWARAN AS DIRECTOR" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 September 2017.
  10. ^ "Resignation Of Non-Executive Director (2) Cessation Of Alternate Director". Archived from the original on 16 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Shin Corporation Public Company Limited 2006 Annual Report" (PDF). p. 51. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 May 2016.
  12. ^ "SembCorp Industries Annual Report 2003". www.sembcorp.com. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  13. ^ "Mr S Iswaran's Directorships" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 September 2017.
  14. ^ "Singapore Minister Faces Most Serious Graft Probe Since 1986". TIME. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Speakers Bio - S. Iswaran". Singapore International Energy Week. Retrieved 2 March 2024. Mr Iswaran has been elected as a Member of Parliament in five General Elections since 2 January 1997. Prior to his Cabinet appointment in 2006, he served on several Government Parliamentary Committees, and as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament from September 2004 to June 2006.
  16. ^ a b "S Iswaran - Minister for Transport; Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations, Ministry of Transport of Singapore". World Economic Forum.
  17. ^ "Full Cabinet line-up". TODAY. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  18. ^ Seow, Bei Yi (24 April 2018). "Cabinet reshuffle: S. Iswaran is new Minister for Communications and Information". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  19. ^ Wainwright, Dale (26 April 2021). "Singapore gets its second transport minister in nine months". TradeWinds. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Singapore Transport Minister S Iswaran was arrested and released on bail as part of CPIB probe". CNA. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  21. ^ "Transport Minister S Iswaran assisting in CPIB investigation, instructed to take leave of absence by PM Lee". Channel News Asia. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  22. ^ "Transport Minister S Iswaran assisting with corruption probe in case uncovered by CPIB, placed on leave by PM Lee". TODAY. 12 July 2023.
  23. ^ "Teh Cheang Wan case: No way a minister can avoid investigations". The Straits Times. 27 March 2015.
  24. ^ "Iswaran to remain in Singapore during CPIB investigation: Prime Minister's Office". CNA. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Iswaran interdicted from duty during CPIB probe, on a reduced pay of S$8,500 a month until further notice: PM Lee". CNA. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  26. ^ "S. Iswaran's CPIB probe: Investigations completed, being reviewed by Attorney-General's Chambers". Yahoo News. 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  27. ^ Taufiq Zalizan. "Iswaran handed 27 charges for corruption, receiving gratification as a public servant and obstructing justice". TODAY. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  28. ^ "CPIB press release: S Iswaran Charged for Corruption and Other Offences". Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau official website. 18 January 2024.
  29. ^ Kok, Xinghui (18 January 2024). "Singapore minister charged with corruption in rare case". Reuters.
  30. ^ Iau, Jean; Zachariah, Natasha Ann (18 January 2024). "Iswaran resigns as Transport Minister, from the PAP amid charges including corruption". The Straits Times. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  31. ^ Zalizan, Taufiq (18 January 2024). "Iswaran handed 27 charges for corruption, receiving gratification as a public servant and obstructing justice". TODAY. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  32. ^ Devaraj, Samuel; Shiying, Wong (25 March 2024). "Iswaran faces 8 new charges over obtaining $19k in items including Brompton bike, golf clubs". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  33. ^ "Singapore's ex-transport minister hit with 8 new charges in corruption case". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  34. ^ Kok, Xinghui (24 September 2024). "Ex-minister Iswaran pleads guilty in graft case that has gripped Singapore". Reuters. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  35. ^ Tham, Davina; Lam, Lydia; Koh, Wan Ting (24 September 2024). "Former Singapore transport minister Iswaran pleads guilty after charges amended". Channel News Asia. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  36. ^ "As it happened: Iswaran convicted of five charges including obtaining gifts, to be sentenced on Oct 3". Channel News Asia. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  37. ^ Kok, Xinghui (3 October 2024). "Singapore's disgraced former minister S. Iswaran jailed in landmark case". Reuters. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  38. ^ A New Champion for the Eurasian Community Archived 28 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine The New Eurasian - April–June 2012 Issue
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to S Iswaran.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Transport
2021 – 2024 		Succeeded by
New office Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations
2018 – 2024 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Communications and Information
2018 – 2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded byas Minister for Trade and Industry Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry)
2015 – 2018
Served alongside: Lim Hng Kiang (Trade) 		Succeeded byas Minister for Trade and Industry
Parliament of Singapore
Preceded byas MP for Pasir Panjang GRC (Pasir Panjang) Member of Parliament for
West Coast GRC (Pasir Panjang)
1997 – 2001 		Constituency abolished
Preceded byas MP for West Coast GRC (West Coast) Member of Parliament for
West Coast GRC (West Coast)
2001 – 2024 		Vacant
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