First former Singapore minister on trial for graft pleads guilty

Singapore's former transport minister S. Iswaran arrives at the Supreme Court in Singapore July 5, 2024. REUTERS/Edgar Su/ File Photo

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Singapore's former Transport Minister S. Iswaran has pleaded guilty to receiving gifts while in office, as proceedings began on Tuesday in the first graft trial involving a minister in this Asian financial hub.

The case, which charges Iswaran with receiving favours that includes tickets to English Premier League soccer matches and to the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, has gripped the wealthy city-state which prides itself on having a well-paid and efficient bureaucracy as well as strong governance.