!asians

!asians

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/iswaran-pleads-guilty-on-first-day-of-trial

SINGAPORE - On what was to be the first day of a highly anticipated trial to clear his name, former transport minister S. Iswaran was convicted on Sept 24 after he pleaded guilty to five of the 35 charges he faced.

Events took an unexpected turn after the prosecution agreed to amend two corruption charges to less serious charges of obtaining valuable items as a public servant.

Iswaran, 62, admitted to obtaining valuable items worth more $400,000 in total from Formula One (F1) race promoter Singapore GP's chairman Ong Beng Seng and Mr David Lum Kok Seng, managing director of mainboard-listed construction company Lum Chang Holdings.

He has paid back more than $380,000 to the state and will forfeit the items he received.

The prosecution, represented by Deputy Attorney-General Tai Wei Shyong, pressed for six to seven months' jail for Iswaran.

Mr Tai argued that as a minister for 12 years, Iswaran's acts have had significant impact on the reputation of the Singapore Government, which is well-known for its commitment to integrity.

He said that if public servants could accept substantial gifts in such a situation, public confidence in the integrity of government would be undermined.

"Not punishing such acts would send a signal that such acts are tolerated," he said.

But Iswaran's lawyer, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, argued that the former minister should serve no more than eight weeks in jail.

Mr Singh said there was nothing to suggest that his client's loyalty and duties to the Government were compromised.

In response, Mr Tai contended that it was important for the court to set the "correct marker" on the punishment to be meted out.

Justice Vincent Hoong said he would take time to further consider the arguments, and that he would give his decision on the sentence on Oct 3.

Iswaran had pleaded guilty to four charges of obtaining valuable items as a public servant, an offence under Section 165 of the Penal Code. Another 30 charges will be taken into consideration for sentencing.

He is the first person to be convicted of the offence since Singapore's independence.

Section 165 of the Penal Code makes it an offence for a public servant to accept or obtain anything of value, for free or for inadequate payment, from anyone with whom he is involved in an official capacity.

Iswaran also pleaded guilty to a fifth charge of obstructing the course of justice, for making payment of $5,700 for a business-class flight he had taken from Doha to Singapore in 2022 at Mr Ong's expense.

Setting out how this trip came about, Mr Tai told the court that on Dec 6, 2022, Mr Ong had asked Iswaran if he would like to join him on a trip to Qatar.

Mr Ong told Iswaran he would be travelling on his private jet, and the former minister would be going as his guest. The billionaire hotelier added that he would take care of all of Iswaran's expenses, including hotel accommodation.

Iswaran accepted the invitation and applied for urgent personal leave.

On Dec 10, 2022, he travelled to Doha on Mr Ong's private jet. The value of the flight was more than $10,000, said the prosecutor.

Upon reaching Doha, Iswaran checked into Four Seasons Hotel, and the value of one night at the hotel was over $4,000.

Iswaran then flew back to Singapore on a business-class flight that cost $5,700, which was paid for by Singapore GP on Mr Ong's instructions.

In May 2023, while the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau was probing a separate matter relating to Mr Ong's associates, investigators came across the flight manifest of the flight to Doha.

After learning that the flight manifest had been seized, Iswaran asked Mr Ong to bill him for the expenses related to the Doha trip. He issued a cheque for $5,700 to Singapore GP for the commercial flight.

Iswaran also admitted obtaining premium tickets to the 2017 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, with a value of $42,265.

The court was told that Iswaran had told Singapore GP deputy chairman Colin Syn that he required 10 Green Room tickets for the Singapore F1 Grand Prix in 2017.

The Green Room is a hospitality suite that offers a premium experience to enjoy the race. Each ticket is worth over $4,000.

Iswaran then gave these tickets to his friends and family to attend the race without paying for the tickets.

Iswaran also obtained a Brompton T Line bicycle worth more than $7,900 from Mr Lum in 2022 as a present for his 60th birthday.

In November 2021, Iswaran asked Mr Lum to help him source for whisky and red wine after sending him a screenshot of a bottle of Gordon & MacPhail Caol Ila whisky.

In January 2022, Mr Lum arranged for 14 bottles of alcohol to be delivered to Iswaran.

In relation to these Section 165 offences, Mr Tai said the facts showed that Iswaran was more than a passive acceptor of the gifts in question.

In mitigation, Iswaran's lawyer, Mr Singh, said Iswaran has recognised that he was wrong to have accepted the items from Mr Ong and Mr Lum.

Mr Singh, who addressed the court for more than two hours, said the items were given in the context of his friendship with Mr Ong and Mr Lum.

But Mr Tai said that friendship is neither a defence nor a mitigating factor to the charges under Section 165.

"The closer the social relationship, the more important it is for public servants to avoid taking gifts," he said.

Mr Singh also argued that there were no losses suffered by the gift givers.

Referring to Iswaran's trip to Doha on Mr Ong's private jet, Mr Singh said the chairman of the World Cup had invited Mr Ong to watch the quarter-finals in 2022, and Iswaran was invited on the trip.

Iswaran had considered the trip an opportunity to learn how a city like Doha staged and organised a world event, Mr Singh said.

Mr Ong had already made arrangements for the private jet, added Mr Singh, and that the cost would have been incurred regardless of whether Iswaran was on board.

As for the F1 tickets, Mr Singh said they were not for sale to begin with, so there was no loss. He added that Iswaran distributed the tickets to others, so they could enjoy the race and promote it.

But Mr Tai also said the fact that the giver did not suffer a loss was not a mitigating factor.

"We reject any submissions that there was no harm or minimal harm. Any offence under this section 165 damages the Government's interest," he said.

At one point, Mr Tai stated that he wanted to clarify that the charges were amended but Iswaran was not acquitted of corruption.

Mr Singh then objected, saying that he never suggested that there was an acquittal.

The two then got into an extended exchange, with Mr Singh raising his voice at certain points.

But Justice Hoong said it was "pointless" to go into an argument into why the charges were amended, which was not relevant for sentencing.

In a statement to the media, the Attorney-General's Chambers said that in deciding whether to amend the charge, it considered the "litigation risks" involved in proving the corruption charges beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The statement said that given that there are two primary parties to the transactions, both parties would have an interest in denying corruption in the transactions.

The AGC added that it will take a decision in respect of Mr Ong soon.

After the hearing, Iswaran spoke to reporters outside the Supreme Court building.

He said: "As you know, my lawyers have stated the position clearly, and as you're well aware, the matter is now sub judice, so it's not appropriate for me to say anything more.

"I just want to thank all of you for coming, and let's see how it goes."

!ranchers

🇷🇸 Serbian Parliament has applied for associate membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). pic.twitter.com/3ZANF6pkex

— kos_data (@kos_data) September 16, 2024

Only around a third of Singapore's practicing Catholic population was able to attend the papal Mass due to seating restrictions at the stadium, which has a capacity of only 50,000. On the other hand, there were rougly 100 priests from nearby Vietnam on hand to concelebrate with the pontiff.

In his homily, Pope Francis said some people might think it is "naïve" to say that "nothing lasting is born or grows without love," and that the growth of a successful society is due to families and individuals who make extraordinary sacrifices out of love.

However, the proof is in the city itself, he said, saying, "behind each of the works in front of us there are many stories of love to be discovered," in communities and parents who provide for their families, and in the professionals and workers who are "sincerely engaged" in their various tasks.

"Sometimes the greatness and grandeur of our projects can make us forget this, and fool us into thinking that we can be the sole authors of our lives, of our wealth, our wellbeing, our happiness," he said, but said that "ultimately, life brings us back to one reality: without love we are nothing,"

Faith is the source of this love, he said, because God loved the world enough to sacrifice his only son to free and redeem humanity, and therefore, "It is in Christ that all that we are and can become have their origin and fulfilment."

Beyond the masterpieces of architecture and innovation characteristic of Singapore, Pope Francis said the most beautiful aspects of society are "the brothers and sisters we meet, without discrimination, every day on our path, as we see in Singaporean society and the Church, which are ethnically diverse and yet united and in solidarity!"

Genuine charity, the pope said, is capable of respecting the vulnerable and weak, capable of accompanying those looking for direction in life, and it is also "generous and kind in forgiving beyond all calculation and measure."

To this end, he pointed to the Virgin Mary, who "has given hope to so many people by her support and presence, which she continues to do," and to Saint Francis Xavier, "who found hospitality here many times during his missionary journeys."

Pope Francis closed urging Catholics in Singapore to make "a constant commitment to listening and responding readily to the invitations to love and live justly that continue to come to us today from the infinite love of God."

SINGAPORE: Pope Francis will deliver a state address in Singapore on Sep 12, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Tuesday (Sep 10).

The head of the Vatican will visit Singapore for the first time, from Sep 11 to 13.

His visit is part of a wider trip to the region that includes stops in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste. This 12-day trip is the longest overseas trip of Pope Francis' papacy.

There are around 395,000 Catholics in Singapore according to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore. The last papal visit here was in 1986 by Pope John Paul II, five years after Singapore officially established diplomatic relations with the Holy See, or the central governing body of the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis, who is 87, will receive a ceremonial welcome at Parliament House on Sep 12, and call on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, said MFA.

He will also meet Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

A new orchid hybrid will be named in Pope Francis' honour and unveiled at the ceremonial welcome, said MFA.

After the ceremonial welcome, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Pope Francis will deliver speeches at the state address at the National University of Singapore's University Cultural Centre.

Later that evening, Pope Francis will attend mass and deliver the homily to 50,000 people at the National Stadium.

On Sep 13, he will visit the elderly and sick at Saint Theresa's Home. After that, he will attend an inter-religious meeting at Catholic Junior College, before leaving Singapore for Rome.

Pope Francis will be accompanied by Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Substitute of the Secretariat of State Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Paul Gallagher, and other senior Vatican officials., said MFA in the press release.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to attribute the figure for the Catholic population in the country to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore.

@Corinthian

I got invited to my sister in laws wedding 😬 and need an excuse not to go. Is there a way I could plausibly get banned from Singapore without getting into any trouble in the US?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj9l8zx2wn4o

https://www.xiaohongshu.com/user/profile/5a68a1f8e8ac2b2260167d93?exSource=&tab=note

Cranky mod in /r/singapore had the following exchange:

: Edit: Mods claimed it was from an archived link. Thanks for the clarification.

Would be nice next time to say why it was removed instead of just removing without saying anything.

It looks like censorship that has happened before like other heated threads.

: Earlier one was removed because the rules clearly state that archived links are not allowed for submissions but that's against your narrative I guess

: No narratives from me.

Thanks for clarifying. I'll update the main comment.

Next time would be nice to have an explanation instead of a blanket message.

: Next time try reading the rules before claiming censorship for everything. You can also make your own subreddit to post if you want, nobody is forcing you to be here.

: I'm not the poster so no need to take it out on me.

It's just constructive feedback because optics haven't been very nice here.

>optics haven't been very nice here

Because of people like you running your own narratives and spreading untruths.

Reminder that reddit mods are well compensated ($0.00) for their work so I am not sure why they are so cranky

Chao keng warrior = malingerer in the army who pretends to be sick/injured to get out of his duties

@Wojak @RustShill

Aevann has instructed me not to spread bigotry or hate so as to make the website advertiser friendly but he will deny it if you ask him and I will deny that I told you.

Congratulations to @mcannonbrookes, who just received government approval to build the world's largest renewable and storage project. Sun Cable is a preposterously large (24GW+) solar and wind farm plus an improbably long electricity cord.https://t.co/gveXctXh6V pic.twitter.com/p8IQFnQp2y

— Patrick Collison (@patrickc) August 21, 2024

Malaysia is worst singapore