Former Singapore minister Iswaran freed after serving time for graft-related offences

His case marked the first prosecution of its kind since Singapore’s independence in 1965

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Former Singapore transport minister S. Iswaran arrives at the State Court on October 7, 2024, to begin serving a 12-month prison sentence for accepting gifts and obstructing justice. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:54pm, 6 Jun 2025Updated: 4:54pm, 6 Jun 2025

Singapore’s former transport minister S. Iswaran has been released from custody for accepting gifts as a public servant and obstructing justice.

The Singapore Prison Service confirmed on Friday that the 63-year-old, who had been on home detention, is no longer in its custody after completing his term.

Last October, a High Court judge sentenced Iswaran to 12 months’ imprisonment for four counts of accepting gifts from individuals he was professionally involved with as a public servant, and one charge of obstructing justice.

The case had drawn significant attention in the city state, where ministers are well paid, and the island republic consistently ranks high on global anti-corruption indices.

In Singapore, inmates on good conduct are typically released on remission after serving two-thirds of their sentence.

In February, local media reported that Iswaran was placed on home detention after the prison service assessed that he posed a low risk of reoffending, had committed no institutional offences in prison, and enjoyed strong family support.

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