S. Iswaran's CPIB probe: Investigations completed, being reviewed by Attorney-General's Chambers
Education Minister Chan Chun Sing says in Parliament that the case will be put through the due legal process
SINGAPORE — Investigations by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) into Transport Minister S. Iswaran have been completed, and the matter is now before the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing in Parliament on Tuesday (9 January).
Chan was replying in a written response on behalf of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to Progress Singapore Party’s Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Hazel Poa, who had requested for an update into the ongoing investigations, which began in July last year.
“I understand that there is much public interest in this matter. I want to give my assurance that this case will be put through the due legal process," he wrote in his reply.
Chan said the CPIB has completed a “robust and thorough” investigation, and the matter is being reviewed by the AGC.
Leave of absence until completion of probe
Iswaran was arrested by CPIB on 11 July last year, and is out on bail. The corruption probe stems from an earlier unrelated investigation on a separate matter, with details yet to be released on what he is being investigated for.
The minister was subsequently instructed by PM Lee to take a leave of absence until the completion of the investigation. He also had his monthly pay reduced to $8,500 until further notice, although he continues to draw his MP allowance.
Iswaran's duties as MP for West Coast GRC were also being covered by the other MPs in his GRC: Desmond Lee, Foo Mee Har, Ang Wei Neng and Rachel Ong.
Meanwhile, property tycoon Ong Beng Seng was also arrested on 11 July last year as part of the corruption probe.
The last time a cabinet minister was involved in a CPIB probe was in November 1986, when then-National Development Minister Teh Cheang Wan was investigated for allegedly accepting bribes. Teh died before he could be charged in court.
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