Chee Hong Tat has been named as Singapore’s new minister for transport following the resignation of previous incumbent S Iswaran.
On Thursday, Singapore’s public prosecutor charged Iswaran with two charges of corruption, 24 charges of receiving gifts as a public servant and one charge of obstructing the course of justice.
The charges claim he received tickets for the Singapore edition of the Formula One race, London shows and tickets to several high-profile Premier League football matches between 2015 and 2022, Bloomberg reported.
In his resignation letter to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Iswaran said he “rejected the allegations in the charges” and said he will now focus on “clearing my name”.
The charges are all said to relate to dealings with local property tycoon Ong Beng Seng and his businesses including Como Holdings UK Ltd and Singapore GP Pte, the local organiser of the F1 Grand Prix.
The city state’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau launched an investigation into a case involving Iswaran in July 2023 in what was a rare high-level probe.
“The government has dealt with this case rigorously in accordance with the law, and will continue to do so,” Lee said in a statement.
“I am determined to uphold the integrity of the party and the government, and our reputation for honesty and incorruptibility. Singaporeans expect no less.”
Singapore, which has been rocked in recent years by a number of high-profile corruption cases, says it adopts a “strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption”.
The anti-graft agency said it investigates all cases “without fear or favour” and says it will not hesitate to take action against any parties involved in corrupt activities.
Iswaran, who has spoken at a number of high-profile shipping events in Singapore, joined Lee’s cabinet as a junior minister in 2006 and held the trade and communications portfolios before becoming transport minister in May 2021.
Graft investigations involving ministers are rare in Singapore. Cabinet ministers’ annual salaries often exceed SGD1m ($750,000) in a bid to discourage corruption.
