Subramaniam Iswaran, a former senior minister in Singapore’s government, has been allowed to serve the remainder of his 12-month sentence under home detention after a high-profile corruption trial last year.
On October 7, Iswaran was imprisoned after pleading guilty to accepting gifts valued over S$403,000 (approximately $300,000; £240,000) during his time in office, as well as obstructing justice.
His case attracted significant attention in Singapore, where corruption among public officials is rare. The nation, known for its reputation as a financial hub, takes pride in its squeaky-clean image.
Iswaran was transferred to home arrest on Friday, according to the Singapore Prison Service (SPS). In Singapore, prisoners can be granted home detention after an assessment of factors such as their prison conduct and response to rehabilitation.
Authorities stated that Iswaran was considered “low risk” of reoffending, had not committed any infractions while in prison, and had strong family support. While under home detention, Iswaran must wear an electronic monitoring device and report regularly to authorities for counselling.
Channel News Asia reported seeing Iswaran enjoying a meal at his residence on Friday.
Iswaran’s 12-month sentence exceeded the duration suggested by both his defense and the prosecution during the trial. During sentencing, the judge noted that public officials, like Iswaran, should bear greater responsibility for abusing their positions to acquire valuable gifts.
Iswaran’s case is notable as he is the first political office-holder in Singapore to be tried in court in the past 50 years. The last minister to face a corruption investigation was in 1986 when Teh Cheang Wan, then the development minister, was accused of accepting bribes. Teh took his own life before facing charges.
