Iswaran Apologises & Says He Will Not Be Appealing His 12-Month Jail Sentence

The Iswaran saga appears to be reaching its conclusion, as the former transport minister has confirmed that he will not be appealing his 12-month jail sentence.

Instead, he will begin serving his time behind bars, even as the Ong Beng Seng case continues to unfold.

Iswaran Apologises & Says He Will Not Be Appealing His 12-Month Jail Sentence

Since the beginning of the saga, Iswaran has made only three social media posts. The first, in January, saw him rejecting the charges brought against him and asserting his innocence.

The second, made immediately after he pleaded guilty, indicated that he could not provide further comment.

Today, in a lengthy post, Iswaran announced his decision not to appeal the Court’s sentence.

As he prepares to serve his time, he emphasized the significance of having the charges against him amended by the Public Prosecutor from those under the Prevention of Corruption Act to charges under section 165 of the Penal Code, which relate to the acceptance of gifts by public servants.

In a notable development, Iswaran acknowledged that, as a Minister, his actions were wrong under section 165, and he accepted full responsibility for his misdeeds. He offered an unreserved apology to all Singaporeans, marking the first time he has publicly expressed remorse for his actions.

Iswaran also shed light on the emotional toll that a prolonged trial would have had on his family, noting that the past 15 months have already been exceptionally challenging. By accepting the Court’s decision, he hopes that he and his loved ones can move forward and rebuild their lives together.

The former minister expressed deep gratitude to those who have supported him throughout this ordeal, including his family, friends, grassroots leaders, and his legal team. He also extended thanks to the many others who have offered their support in person or through social media.

He will start his 12-month jail term today.

You can watch this video to know more about his sentencing: