Singapore's Prime Minister disclosed the resignation of the Transport Minister, S Iswaran, who faces 27 charges in a corruption investigation that has implicated a prominent hotel tycoon. Iswaran, aged 61, was arrested in July 2023 and subsequently released on bail, marking a rare instance of high-level corruption scrutiny in the city-state.
He has declared his intention to plead not guilty to the charges brought forth by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau during his court appearance.
An AFP reporter saw Iswaran leave the court with his lawyers after his appearance.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed shortly after the hearing that Iswaran had submitted his resignation from the government, parliament and ruling People's Action Party (PAP) on January 16 after being given formal notice of the charges against him.
Iswaran has also pledged to return the money received as part of his salary and allowances since his arrest, Lee said.
"I reject the allegations in the charges and will now focus on clearing my name," Iswaran wrote in his resignation letter, which was published on the website of the prime minister's office.
Iswaran, facing primarily corruption charges, is also accused of obstructing justice. The charges include allegations of accepting tickets to prestigious sporting events from hotel tycoon Ong Beng Seng, one of Singapore's wealthiest individuals. Ong, arrested on the same day as Iswaran in 2023, was also released on bail. The corruption investigation has captured the attention of Singapore, a renowned global financial hub known for its reputation as one of the least corrupt countries in the world.