Former transport minister S Iswaran convicted of 5 charges in court

In the High Court on Sep 24, former transport minister S Iswaran was convicted on charges of receiving gifts while in office. At the start of the trial, the prosecutors had decided to replace two corruption charges with two lesser charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code. The prosecution stressed that the corruption charges were not withdrawn but amended and there was good basis for those charges. It saw the trial proceed with only five charges, including four offences related to public servants obtaining valuable things and one charge of obstruction of justice. The 62-year-old admitted to all five. The court judge said the remaining 30 charges Iswaran faces will be taken into consideration in deciding how he will be punished. Sentencing has been set for Oct 3. Jeraldine Yap reports.