© Reuters
SINGAPORE — Singapore’s trial of former Transport Minister S. Iswaran took a surprise turn when it started on Tuesday, with the ex-government official pleading guilty only after prosecutors amended corruption charges against him to reduced counts of obtaining gifts.
Iswaran, who was a veteran politician in the ruling People’s Action Party, had faced over 30 charges in a scandal that rocked the city-state, known for a public service that emphasizes clean governance and zero tolerance for corruption.