Transport Minister S Iswaran is the first senior minister to get embroiled in a graft probe since 1986 in a case that’s challenged Singapore’s reputation for clean governance.

(Jan 10): Singapore has completed months of investigations into a corruption case involving one of its highest ranking ministers, making progress on a probe that shook up the city state known for clean governance last year.

“The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau has completed a robust and thorough investigation” into the case involving Transport Minister S Iswaran, according to a written reply from Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing to a parliamentary question on Tuesday. “The matter is currently being reviewed by the Attorney General’s Chambers.”

Iswaran, 61, is the first senior minister to get embroiled in a graft probe since 1986. He and property tycoon Ong Beng Seng were arrested in July in the case that’s rocked a government known for its zero tolerance for corruption. Both Iswaran and Ong were released on bail.

The Attorney General’s Chambers said it has received the anti-corruption bureau’s findings and can’t comment as the matter is under review.

The anti-corruption agency, which reports directly to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, hasn’t specified what wrongdoing was involved. No charges have been filed.

Lee has barred Iswaran from duty with a reduced pay of S$8,500 (RM29,676) a month until further notice. That’s an 82% cut from the lower-end of the base ministerial salary of S$46,750 in Singapore, where political leaders are among the best paid in the world. Iswaran continues to draw an annual allowance of S$192,500 as a member of parliament.

The scandal, along with episodes involving other lawmakers in 2023, has cast a pall over the ruling People’s Action Party as it prepares for a leadership transition. Prime Minister Lee has signalled he will step aside for his successor, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, by the end of this year. Clarity on how the corruption case will turn out would remove one challenge for Wong as he takes over. Singapore must hold a general election before November 2025.

“I understand that there is much public interest in this matter,” Chan said, speaking on behalf of the prime minister. “I want to give my assurance that this case will be put through the due legal process.”

The matter was the subject of contention in parliament back in August as the opposition called government transparency into question. Lee has meanwhile defended how the case was being handled and vowed to protect the integrity of governance.

“In any system, however comprehensive the safeguards, sometimes something will still go wrong,” he said at the time. “I will not flinch or hesitate to do my duty, to keep our system robust and clean.”