Former Singapore transport minister S Iswaran moved to home detention

SINGAPORE: Former transport minister S Iswaran, who is serving a 12-month jail term, was placed in home detention on Friday (Feb 7).

The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) announced this on the same day in response to CNA's queries and confirmed that Iswaran is no longer in Changi Prison Complex.

"Like all inmates emplaced on the Home Detention Scheme, S Iswaran will serve his remaining sentence at his residence under specified conditions, which include curfew monitoring using an electronic monitoring tag, being gainfully occupied either in work, study or training, and reporting to SPS for counselling," said SPS.

Iswaran began his 12-month jail term on Oct 7, 2024.

REMISSION AND HOME DETENTION CONDITIONS

Under the Prisons Act, inmates who display good conduct in prison are eligible for remission after serving two-thirds of their sentence, or after serving 14 days of their sentence, whichever ends later.

A prisoner is also eligible to be released on the home detention scheme for a period not exceeding 12 months if they are serving a sentence of four weeks or more, and have served at least 14 days of their sentence.

Factors such as their conduct, and progress and response to rehabilitation during their time in prison, are taken into account when accessing eligibility for home detention, said SPS.

"(Iswaran) has been assessed suitable for emplacement on the scheme, as he is of low risk of re-offending, did not commit any institutional offence in prison, and has strong family support," said the prison service.

Lawyers confirmed with CNA that, in their experience, offenders become eligible for home detention after serving around one-third of their sentence.

"During home detention, inmates who have approved employment can leave the home during their working hours while inmates who are unemployed usually only have a few hours out of the home in the afternoons," said Mr Adrian Wee of Lighthouse Law LLC.

Last year, about 44 per cent of the inmates eligible for home detention were placed on the scheme, SPS added.

THE CASE

Iswaran pleaded guilty on Sep 24, 2024 to four charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which forbids all public servants from obtaining any valuable thing from someone involved with them in an official capacity.

These were for obtaining valuables from Singapore GP majority shareholder Ong Beng Seng and construction boss Lum Kok Seng while he held portfolios that had official dealings with the two men.

Iswaran also pleaded guilty to one charge of obstructing justice by belatedly repaying the cost of a flight to Doha.

Another 30 charges under Section 165 were taken into consideration.

Across all charges, he admitted to obtaining S$403,300 (US$300,000) worth of valuables over seven years, including tickets to musicals, Formula 1 events and football matches, as well as alcohol and a Brompton bicycle gifted to him for his 60th birthday.

He resigned from office in January 2024 and has made a voluntary disgorgement of S$380,305.95. This refers to giving up illegally obtained gains.

Ong's case is pending before the courts, while the Attorney-General's Chambers has said they will not file charges against Mr Lum.