Ex-Singapore Minister Subramaniam Iswaran Moves from Jail to Home Detention

Iswaran, imprisoned for accepting bribes and obstructing justice, has transitioned to home detention, marking a rare case of political corruption in Singapore.

A former senior minister in Singapore, Subramaniam Iswaran, has successfully transitioned from prison to house arrest to serve the remainder of his 12-month sentence after a high-profile corruption trial. Iswaran was sentenced on October 7 after pleading guilty to accepting gifts exceeding S$403,000 (approximately $300,000) during his time in office and obstructing justice. His case has attracted widespread attention in Singapore, a nation known for its strict anti-corruption laws.

The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) announced on Friday that Iswaran would begin house arrest, citing his low re-offending risk, good behavior in prison, and robust family support as factors for this decision. During his home detention, Iswaran will be monitored via an electronic tag and is required to report to prison authorities for counseling sessions.

Local channel Channel News Asia reported that Iswaran was spotted having a meal at his residence following his transfer to home detention. His imprisonment comes at the end of a judicial process that marked the first occasion in 50 years that a political office-holder has faced trial in Singapore, a city-state that prides itself on its clean governance record.

Iswaran received a longer than expected sentence, reflecting the judicial stance that public officials bear greater accountability for abusing their positions for personal gain. The last similar case, dating back to 1986, involved former development minister Teh Cheang Wan, who faced an inquiry for bribe acceptance but subsequently took his own life before charges could be filed.