SINGAPORE’S Transport Minister S. Iswaran has been interdicted from duty with a reduced pay of S$8,500 (RM28,800) a month until further notice, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said today.

Lee was speaking in parliament on the corruption probe involving Iswaran, as well as the resignations of two MPs – former speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and Cheng Li Hui – over their extramarital affair.

More than 10 MPs had filed questions on matters related to the probe by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).

Iswaran was arrested by CPIB on July 11. He is out on bail and has been placed on a leave of absence.

CPIB’s probe into Iswaran also involves billionaire Ong Beng Seng, the man widely credited with bringing F1 racing to Singapore.

Given that such incidents involving ministers are rare, Lee said there is no rule or precedent on how to effect an interdiction on a political office holder. And as such, he used the current civil service practice as a reference point.

“The specific details in Iswaran’s case follow generally how the civil service would deal with a senior officer in a similar situation,” he said.

“But this was my decision as prime minister, because the political contexts for a minister and a civil servant being investigated and interdicted are different.”

According to the Public Service Division, as of 2023, the benchmark level of a minister’s monthly salary stands at S$55,000, working out to an annual salary of S$1.1 million.

Facts of the case

Briefly running through the facts of the case, Lee said while investigating a “separate matter”, CPIB came across some information concerning Iswaran that “merited investigation”.

CPIB alerted Lee on May 29 and pursued the lead further “on their own volition”. Lee was briefed on the findings by the director of CPIB on July 5.

“He told me that CPIB would need to interview Iswaran to take the investigation further, and sought my concurrence to open a formal investigation,” said Lee, who gave his concurrence the next day.

Iswaran was brought in by CPIB on July 11 and subsequently released on bail.

Lee said CPIB investigations are still ongoing and that he is unable to provide more details on the case, so as not to prejudice the investigations in any way.

“I ask members of this House and the public to refrain from speculation and conjecture. We must allow CPIB to do its work, to investigate the matter fully, thoroughly and independently,” he said.

When the investigation is completed, CPIB will submit its findings to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, which will decide what to do, he said.

“Whichever way the facts come out, the case will be taken to its logical conclusion. That has always been our way,” said Lee. – todayonline, August 2, 2023.