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00:00 Iswaran was first hauled to court two months ago for two graft charges, 24 charges for
00:08 receiving gifts as a public servant and one for obstructing the course of justice.
00:15 Iswaran was most recently accused of receiving 12 bottles of wine along with other items
00:21 from November 2021 to November 2022 from Lum Kok Seng.
00:27 The items were worth a total of nearly 19,000 Singaporean dollars or approximately 14,111
00:34 US dollars.
00:35 Lum is the managing director of Lum Chang Holdings, the parent company of Lum Chang
00:40 Building Contractors, which has work contracts with the government.
00:45 Although the contracts were awarded before Iswaran became the transport minister in 2021,
00:51 the charge sheet said he was aware about Lum's business dealings with his ministry.
00:58 Iswaran resigned in January just before he was charged and Singaporean ministers are
01:04 among the most well-paid in the world.
01:07 Although the amount involved in Iswaran's case appeared mild, his indictment is an embarrassment
01:13 to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's ruling party, which prides itself on a clean image.
01:18 Indeed, as another cabinet minister was also investigated for graft back in 1986, but died
01:25 before charges were filed.
01:27 Lee has said that Iswaran's case has been dealt with vigorously according to the law,
01:33 vowed to uphold his government's reputation for honesty and incorruptibility.
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