SINGAPORE: Former Transport Minister S Iswaran, who faces multiple charges including corruption, returned to court on Thursday (Feb 8) where a judge granted him approval to leave the country.
The 61-year-old applied for permission from the court to leave Singapore for Australia between Feb 16 and Mar 4 to help his son settle into university.
The prosecution had no objection as long as Iswaran adhered to additional bail conditions - including an additional bail sum of S$500,000 in cash on top of his existing bail of S$800,000.
Top guns on both sides - Defence lawyer Senior Counsel Davinder Singh and Chief Prosecutor Tan Kiat Pheng - were absent in court on Thursday.
Their subordinates attended the hearing instead - with Mr Navin Thevar making the application on Iswaran's behalf, and Deputy Public Prosecutor Jiang Ke-Yue responding for the prosecution.
Mr Thevar said the defence filed the application for Iswaran to leave the country on Feb 5, mainly because "he needs to settle his son into university".
He said the defence accepts the conditions the prosecution said should be imposed if the application is allowed.
Mr Jiang said those conditions include an additional cash bail of S$500,000, for Iswaran to provide his travel itinerary to the investigating officer as well as his address overseas, and to remain contactable by the IO at all times.
The bailor, a man with the surname Ng, said he agreed to those conditions.
District Judge Brenda Tan approved the travel application and imposed the bail conditions asked for by the prosecution.
Mr Jiang then made a second administrative application - to transfer the case to the High Court.
He said the prosecution was of the opinion that "this case ought to be tried in the High Court".
Mr Thevar said there was some context to this application.
"On Jan 31, 2024, we wrote to my learned friends to ask or to indicate that it is our client's intention to ask for early trial to be held as soon as possible, so the evidence can be fully aired and the matter decided as soon as possible," said the lawyer.
"So now that the prosecution has indicated they will be taking the case to High Court, we are happy with that decision. We absolutely agree that this is a matter that should be heard in the High Court."
Mr Thevar then asked if the prosecution would agree for an "early trial" to be held in the High Court, saying the defence cannot see why this should not or cannot happen since investigations have taken "a long time".
Mr Jiang responded that this is "in consideration" and that the judge's diary in the High Court "ought to be taken into account".
"These are matters we need not trouble your honour on, and we can address this before the High Court registry when a case conference is called," he said.
All 27 charges Iswaran faces were re-read to him, as required when a case is transmitted to the High Court.
A criminal case disclosure conference for the case will be held in the High Court on Mar 22.
Iswaran was handed 27 charges on Jan 18 - two of corruptly obtaining bribes from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, 24 of obtaining valuables as a public servant and one of obstructing justice.
Mr Ong, who owns the rights to the Singapore Grand Prix, has not been charged.
Former Transport Minister S Iswaran arriving at State Courts on Feb 8, 2024. (Photo: CNA/ Marcus Mark Ramos)
The former minister is accused of corruptly receiving more than S$166,000 (US$123,570) worth of flights, hotel stays and tickets to events in exchange for advancing the billionaire's business interests.
He is separately accused of obtaining about S$218,000 worth of valuable items in his capacity as a minister who also dealt with Mr Ong and his company. Iswaran was chairman of the F1 Steering Committee.
Iswaran pleaded not guilty to all the charges, saying after his charging last month that he would focus on clearing his name.
He is represented by Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, Mr Navin Thevar, Mr Rajvinder Singh Chahal and Ms Shieffa Safi Shirbeeni.
He resigned from his positions in government two days before being formally charged in court - he had previously been placed on a leave of absence pending an investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
If convicted of obtaining a valuable thing as a public servant, Iswaran can be jailed for up to two years, fined, or both.
If convicted of corruptly obtaining gratification under the Prevention of Corruption Act, he can be jailed for up to seven years, fined up to S$100,000, or both.
If convicted of obstructing justice, he can be jailed for up to seven years, fined, or both.
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The 61-year-old applied for permission from the court to leave Singapore for Australia between Feb 16 and Mar 4 to help his son settle into university.
The prosecution had no objection as long as Iswaran adhered to additional bail conditions - including an additional bail sum of S$500,000 in cash on top of his existing bail of S$800,000.
Top guns on both sides - Defence lawyer Senior Counsel Davinder Singh and Chief Prosecutor Tan Kiat Pheng - were absent in court on Thursday.
Their subordinates attended the hearing instead - with Mr Navin Thevar making the application on Iswaran's behalf, and Deputy Public Prosecutor Jiang Ke-Yue responding for the prosecution.
Mr Thevar said the defence filed the application for Iswaran to leave the country on Feb 5, mainly because "he needs to settle his son into university".
He said the defence accepts the conditions the prosecution said should be imposed if the application is allowed.
Mr Jiang said those conditions include an additional cash bail of S$500,000, for Iswaran to provide his travel itinerary to the investigating officer as well as his address overseas, and to remain contactable by the IO at all times.
The bailor, a man with the surname Ng, said he agreed to those conditions.
District Judge Brenda Tan approved the travel application and imposed the bail conditions asked for by the prosecution.
CASE TRANSFERRED TO HIGH COURT
Mr Jiang then made a second administrative application - to transfer the case to the High Court.
He said the prosecution was of the opinion that "this case ought to be tried in the High Court".
Mr Thevar said there was some context to this application.
"On Jan 31, 2024, we wrote to my learned friends to ask or to indicate that it is our client's intention to ask for early trial to be held as soon as possible, so the evidence can be fully aired and the matter decided as soon as possible," said the lawyer.
"So now that the prosecution has indicated they will be taking the case to High Court, we are happy with that decision. We absolutely agree that this is a matter that should be heard in the High Court."
Mr Thevar then asked if the prosecution would agree for an "early trial" to be held in the High Court, saying the defence cannot see why this should not or cannot happen since investigations have taken "a long time".
Mr Jiang responded that this is "in consideration" and that the judge's diary in the High Court "ought to be taken into account".
"These are matters we need not trouble your honour on, and we can address this before the High Court registry when a case conference is called," he said.
All 27 charges Iswaran faces were re-read to him, as required when a case is transmitted to the High Court.
A criminal case disclosure conference for the case will be held in the High Court on Mar 22.
BACKGROUND
Iswaran was handed 27 charges on Jan 18 - two of corruptly obtaining bribes from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, 24 of obtaining valuables as a public servant and one of obstructing justice.
Mr Ong, who owns the rights to the Singapore Grand Prix, has not been charged.
Former Transport Minister S Iswaran arriving at State Courts on Feb 8, 2024. (Photo: CNA/ Marcus Mark Ramos)
The former minister is accused of corruptly receiving more than S$166,000 (US$123,570) worth of flights, hotel stays and tickets to events in exchange for advancing the billionaire's business interests.
He is separately accused of obtaining about S$218,000 worth of valuable items in his capacity as a minister who also dealt with Mr Ong and his company. Iswaran was chairman of the F1 Steering Committee.
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Iswaran pleaded not guilty to all the charges, saying after his charging last month that he would focus on clearing his name.
He is represented by Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, Mr Navin Thevar, Mr Rajvinder Singh Chahal and Ms Shieffa Safi Shirbeeni.
He resigned from his positions in government two days before being formally charged in court - he had previously been placed on a leave of absence pending an investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
If convicted of obtaining a valuable thing as a public servant, Iswaran can be jailed for up to two years, fined, or both.
If convicted of corruptly obtaining gratification under the Prevention of Corruption Act, he can be jailed for up to seven years, fined up to S$100,000, or both.
If convicted of obstructing justice, he can be jailed for up to seven years, fined, or both.
Related:
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