SINGAPORE - Former transport minister S. Iswaran was handed 27 charges on Jan 18, including allegedly obtaining tickets from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng to shows such as Harry Potter And The Cursed Child.

Some of the charges were related to alleged incidents that happened between 2015 and 2021, and included obtaining two tickets to a football match between West Ham United and Everton.

A court officer told the court the charges were read to him before the hearing.

Iswaran, who was arrested in July 2023 by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), arrived at the State Courts at around 8am on Jan 18. He arrived with his legal team, which included Senior Counsel Davinder Singh from Davinder Singh Chambers, and did not comment when The Straits Times approached him.

The prosecution team is led by Chief Prosecutor Tan Kiat Pheng, who is assisted by Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jiang Ke-Yue and Deputy Public Prosecutor Kelvin Chong.

When the judge asked Iswaran how he intended to plead, he said: “Not guilty.”

He is now out on $800,000 bail.

The charges are two counts of corruption, 24 counts of obtaining items from someone he had business dealings with as a public servant, and one of obstructing the course of justice. The value of the items in the charges is more than $380,000.

Mr Singh said cautioned statements were taken from Iswaran on 36 charges on Jan 15.

He said the defence learnt on the morning of Jan 18 that there were now just 27 charges, and asked if the prosecution was proceeding with the remaining nine charges.

The prosecution said it was not.

Court documents show that most of the offences Iswaran faces involve Mr Ong, who brought Formula One to Singapore in 2008. 

In September 2022, Iswaran had allegedly corruptly obtained from Mr Ong gratification with a total value of about $145,434 as inducement for advancing his business interests in matters relating to a contract between Singapore GP and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

The alleged gratification included 10 Green Room tickets, eight Twenty3 tickets and 32 general admission tickets to the 2022 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix.

He allegedly obtained from Mr Ong gratification valued at $20,848.03 in December 2022 for advancing his business interests in matters relating to a contract between Singapore GP and the STB and a proposal for a contract with the STB.

The alleged bribes included an outbound flight on Mr Ong’s private plane from Singapore to Doha worth about US$7,700 (S$10,410.40), one night’s stay in Four Seasons Doha worth about $4,737.63, and a business class flight from Doha to Singapore worth about $5,700.

He had allegedly obtained, as a public servant, valuable things with a total value of about $218,058.95 from Mr Ong on 24 occasions between November 2015 and December 2021.

He allegedly either obtained this through Mr Ong directly, Singapore GP or Como Holdings (UK) – a member of Como Group that was founded and is owned by Mr Ong’s wife, Mrs Christina Ong.

He allegedly did so while knowing Mr Ong had a connection with his official function as chairman of the F1 Steering Committee.

The items include two tickets to a football match between West Ham United and Everton worth about £468 (S$1,006.06) that he obtained around November 2015, and 10 Green Room tickets to the 2017 Singapore Formula One Grand Prix worth about $42,265 that he obtained in September 2016.

He allegedly in September 2018 obtained 13 general admission tickets to the 2018 Singapore Formula One Grand Prix worth about $16,744.

He purportedly obtained tickets to multiple shows including Hamilton, Kinky Boots, Book Of Mormon and Harry Potter And The Cursed Child.

Iswaran had allegedly obstructed the course of justice on or about May 25, 2023.

He had allegedly made repayment of $5,700 – the cost of his business class flight ticket from Doha to Singapore that he had taken on Dec 11, 2022, at Mr Ong’s expense – through Singapore GP.

Iswaran, 61, was arrested by CPIB on July 11, 2023, following its investigation into a separate matter.

He was instructed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to take a leave of absence until investigations were completed. His monthly pay was reduced to $8,500.

Iswaran was elected in 1997 as an MP for West Coast GRC (group representation constituency), where he has served for the last 26 years.

He was promoted to full minister in the Prime Minister’s Office in 2011.

Mr Ong was also arrested on July 11 as part of the corruption probe.

On Jan 18, a spokesperson from AGC said: “The Attorney-General’s Chambers will take a decision in respect of the investigations against Mr Ong and others, after the case against Mr S. Iswaran has been completed, including the presentation of evidence in court.”

Iswaran issued a statement after his court appearance, saying: “I am innocent and will now focus on clearing my name.

“My family and I are deeply touched by the continued support, kindness and encouragement of our friends and well-wishers.”

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong told reporters that the Government had handled the matter decisively and proactively.

He said he was disappointed and saddened by what had happened, and said the People’s Action Party’s stance on corruption was non-negotiable.

He said: “This is part of our DNA. There can be no compromise, no relaxation, no fudging of this, no matter the political price.

“The PAP Government will continue to do everything we can to uphold the highest standards of integrity, incorruptibility and propriety. That’s how we maintain the trust that Singaporeans have placed in us.”

Iswaran’s pre-trial conference is scheduled for March 1.

For each corruption charge, he can be fined up to $100,000, jailed for up to seven years, or both.

He can be fined, jailed for up to two years or both, for obtaining valuable items from someone he had business dealings with as a public servant.

For obstructing the course of justice, he can be jailed for up to seven years, fined or both.

• Additional reporting by Jean Iau