(Image source from: Deccanherald.com)

The former Singaporean transport minister of Indian descent, S Iswaran, was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading guilty to five charges related to corruption and obstructing justice in the High Court on September 24. The sentence was higher than the six to seven months requested by the prosecution, which the judge, Justice Hoong, considered "manifestly inadequate". The judge stated that the higher the public office held by the offender, the greater their level of responsibility. Iswaran is the first person to be prosecuted under Section 165 in post-independent Singapore, as reported by The Straits Times. The judge acknowledged the mitigating factors presented by the defense, including Iswaran's public service to Singapore, his voluntary repayment of benefits, and his early guilty plea.

However, the judge also noted that the additional 30 charges taken into consideration were similar to the proceeded charges, where Iswaran received gifts, indicating the scale and repetition of his offenses over a significant period. The judge considered this a factor that increased Iswaran's culpability, while his public service and contributions to Singapore were seen as neutral factors at most. Based on the defendant's public statements denying the charges, the judge believed Iswaran was regretful. However, the judge stated he could not agree with the defense's arguments. The accused is only eligible for a maximum reduction of 10% in their sentence.