Singapore’s ex-Cabinet minister jailed for 12 months

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SINGAPORE—A Singapore court on Thursday sentenced a former minister to 12 months in prison for obstructing justice and receiving more than $300,000 worth of gifts, in the first jailing of an ex-Cabinet member in a city-state known for clean governance.

S. Iswaran, 62, who was a Cabinet member for 13 years and has held the trade, communications and transport portfolios, had pleaded guilty to four counts of improperly receiving gifts and one of obstructing justice.

The case has shocked Singapore, which prides itself on having a well-paid and efficient bureaucracy as well as strong and squeaky-clean governance.

It was among the world’s top five least corrupt countries last year.

Reuters

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