Subramaniam Iswaran, a senior cabinet minister in Singapore's government, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison in a high-profile trial that has gripped the wealthy nation.
Iswaran, 62, pleaded guilty to accepting gifts worth more than S$403,000 ($311,882; £234,586) while in public office, as well as obstructing the course of justice.
The gifts included tickets to the Formula 1 Grand Prix, a Brompton T-line bicycle, alcohol and a ride on a private jet.
Justice Vincent Hoong, who oversaw the case in Singapore's High Court, emphasised that the former transport minister's crimes were an abuse of power and jeopardised people’s trust in public institutions.
He also noted that Iswaran seemed to think he would be acquitted.
“In his letter to the prime minister, he stated he rejected (the charges) and expressed his strong belief he would be acquitted,” said Justice Hoong.
"Thus I have difficulty accepting these are indicative of his remorse."
Iswaran will report to prison on 7 October.
He will serve his sentence at Changi, the same prison that holds Singapore's death row prisoners, where the cells don't have fans and most inmates sleep on straw mats instead of beds.
He is Singapore's first political figure to be tried in court in nearly 50 years.
The nation prides itself on its squeaky clean image and lack of corruption. But that image, and the reputation of the governing People's Action Party, have taken a hit as a result of Iswaran's case.
The city state's lawmakers are among the highest-paid in the world, with some ministers earning more than S$1 million ($758,000). Leaders justify the handsome salaries by saying it combats corruption.
Ministers cannot keep gifts unless they pay the market value of the gift to the government, and they must declare anything they receive from people they have business dealings with.
“It's not a significant sum over his years of service, but on his salary, he could have very well afforded not to," said Eugene Tan, an associate professor of law at Singapore Management University.
"I think the public were expecting the court to demonstrate zero tolerance for this sort of conduct."
Iswaran's defence team had asked for eight weeks, if the judge deemed prison necessary. His lawyer argued the charges were not an abuse of power and did not disadvantage the government.
Prosecutors meanwhile requested a six to seven-month sentence, saying Iswaran was "more than a passive acceptor of gifts".
“If public servants could accept substantial gifts in such a situation, over the long term, public confidence in the impartiality and integrity of government would be severely undermined,” said Deputy Attorney-General Tai Wei Shyong.
"Not punishing such acts would send a signal that such acts are tolerated."
Justice Hoong noted on Thursday that holders of high office have a particularly large impact on the public interest.
"Such persons set the tone for public servants in conducting themselves in accordance with high standards of integrity and must be expected to avoid any perception that they are susceptible to influence by pecuniary benefits," he said.
While in government, Iswaran held multiple portfolios in the prime minister's office: in home affairs, communications and, most recently, the transport ministry.
Prior to last year, the most recent case of a politician facing a major corruption probe was in 1986, when national development minister Teh Cheang Wan was investigated for accepting bribes. He took his own life before he was charged.
Before that, former minister of state for environment Wee Toon Boon was sentenced to 18 months jail in 1975 for a case involving more than $800,000.
Allegations against Iswaran first surfaced in July of last year. Nearly all the charges against him stem from his dealings involving billionaire property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, who helped bring the Formula 1 Grand Prix to Singapore. Ong Beng Seng is also under investigation. Source: BBC
