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Former Singapore Minister Sentenced to Prison for Obstruction and Receiving Gifts #

A Singapore court has sentenced a former minister to 12 months in prison for obstructing justice and receiving over $300,000 worth of gifts. This marks the first imprisonment of an ex-cabinet member in the city-state, which is known for its clean governance.

The former minister, who served in the cabinet for 13 years and held various portfolios including trade, communications, and transport, pleaded guilty to four counts of improperly receiving gifts and one of obstructing justice. The court has allowed him to remain on bail for a few days before beginning his jail term on Monday.

This case has shocked Singapore, a country that prides itself on having a well-paid and efficient bureaucracy, as well as strong and clean governance. Singapore was ranked among the world’s top five least corrupt countries last year.

The last corruption case involving a Singaporean minister occurred in 1986, when the national development minister was investigated for alleged bribery but passed away before any charges were filed in court.

The investigation caused a stir in the Asian financial hub and focused on allegations that the former minister, while serving as transport minister, accepted lavish gifts from businessmen. These gifts included tickets to English Premier League soccer matches, the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, London musicals, and a ride on a private jet. The total value of these gifts exceeded 400,000 Singapore dollars ($309,000).

The former minister resigned from his position as transport minister after less than three years when he was first charged in January. Initially claiming innocence and vowing to clear his name, he later pleaded guilty to the five charges presented in court. Two of these charges were initially corruption-related but were amended to charges of receiving gifts.

The prosecution had initially charged him with 35 offenses but proceeded with only five.