SALAR NEWS

Singapore’s Indian-origin ex-minister says he's 'innocent'

Singapore's Indian-origin former transport minister S Iswaran, who has resigned from the ruling party after being charged with multiple offences, on Thursday said he was “innocent” and rejected all graft allegations against him.

PTI

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Singapore's Indian-origin former transport minister S Iswaran

SINGAPORE, 18 JAN

Earlier in the day, Iswaran, 61, was handed an array of charges, the bulk of which was for receiving items worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from billionaire hotelier Ong Beng Seng, mainly relating to the Singapore F1 race, The Straits Times newspaper reported.

He pleaded not guilty to 27 charges - two of corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act, one of obstructing justice and 24 of receiving gratification as a public servant under the Penal Code. He told the court he intends to claim trial.

“I am innocent and will now focus on clearing my name,” the former minister said in a statement on Thursday, rejecting all allegations against him. Iswaran, who earlier in the day, resigned from the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) and announced stepping down as a Member of Parliament, said that he did that “even without being asked to do so”.

“I resigned as Cabinet Minister, Member of Parliament and as a member of the People’s Action Party because I believe it was the right thing to do,” Iswaran was quoted as saying by Channel News Asia. In his resignation letter to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, dated 16 January, Iswaran rejected the various offences the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) charged him with.

“I reject the allegations in the charges and will now focus on clearing my name. Given the circumstances, I feel it is right for me to resign from Cabinet, as a Member of Parliament and as a member of the PAP,” the letter said.