SINGAPORE — The trial of former Transport Minister S. Iswara took an unexpected turn when the trial began on Tuesday in Singapore, with the former government official pleading guilty only after prosecutors amended corruption charges against him to reduce the number of gifts he received.
Iswaran, a veteran politician in the ruling People's Action Party, faced more than 30 charges in the scandal that rocked the city-state known for its public service that emphasized clean governance and zero tolerance for corruption.