<article>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-497746" name="segment-497746" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2></h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="text">
<div class="">
<p><i>Follow us on <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/saysdotcom/">Instagram</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@saysdotcom">TikTok</a>, and <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VZzynzi6RGJG0QbRfy3O">WhatsApp</a> for the latest stories and breaking news.</i></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-497747" name="segment-497747" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2>Singapore&#8217;s Transport Minister S Iswaran was charged with 27 offences in a graft investigation, the anti-corruption agency said on Thursday, 18 January, in one of the highest-profile cases involving a minister in the Asian financial hub in decades</h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="text">
<div class="">
<p>In a resignation letter dated Tuesday, 16 January, but published by the prime minister&#8217;s office on Thursday, Iswaran said he rejected the charges and &#8220;will now focus on clearing my name&#8221;.</p>
<p>The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said Iswaran, who was arrested in July last year, was alleged to have obtained kickbacks worth SGD384,340.98 (RM1.3 million) from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, partly to advance Ong&#8217;s business interests.</p>
<p>Charge sheets show the favours include tickets to football matches, musicals, a flight on Ong&#8217;s private plane, and tickets to the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix.&nbsp;Iswaran&nbsp;was advisor to the Grand Prix&#8217;s steering committee, while Ong owns the rights to the race.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="image">
<div class="">
<div class="single-image list-unstyled">
<div class="single-image-wrap">
                    <a href="https://images.says.com/uploads/story_source/source_image/1210049/null" target="" class="imgwrap colorbox-image cboxElement" title="S Iswaran leaving the State Courts today, 18 January." rel="segment-810 noopener"><br />
                      <img decoding="async" class="source-img-1210049" alt="S Iswaran leaving the State Courts today, 18 January." src="https://images.says.com/uploads/story_source/source_image/1210049/null"> </a>
                </div>
<p class="img-caption">S Iswaran leaving the State Courts today, 18 January.</p>
<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3248848/singapore-transport-minister-s-iswaran-hit-27-charges-corruption-probe" rel="noopener">Bloomberg via SCMP</a></small>
            </div>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-497748" name="segment-497748" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2>Iswaran faces a total of 27 charges, including corruption and obstructing the course of justice, the CPIB said in a statement</h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="text">
<div class="">
<p>If convicted of corruption, he could be fined up to SGD100,000 (RM351,000) or face seven years in prison.</p>
<p>There was no immediate response to emails seeking comment from Ong&#8217;s office. The property tycoon was also arrested in July as part of the corruption probe. He has not been charged.</p>
<p>The case has gripped Singapore, a major Asian financial hub that prides itself on a squeaky clean government that is rarely affected by graft and scandals involving political leaders.</p>
<p>Civil servants are highly paid to discourage corruption. The annual salary of many cabinet ministers exceeds SGD1 million (RM3.51 million).</p>
<p>In 2022, Transparency International ranked the city-state the fifth least corrupt country in its International Corruption Perceptions Index of 180 nations.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="image">
<div class="">
<div class="single-image list-unstyled">
<div class="single-image-wrap">
                    <a href="https://images.says.com/uploads/story_source/source_image/1210051/null" target="" class="imgwrap colorbox-image cboxElement" title="" rel="segment-810 noopener"><br />
                      <img decoding="async" class="source-img-1210051" alt="" src="https://images.says.com/uploads/story_source/source_image/1210051/null"> </a>
                </div>
<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/singapore-transport-minister-charged-court-graft-case-local-media-2024-01-18" rel="noopener">Kelvin Chng/The Straits Times via Reuters</a></small>
            </div>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-497749" name="segment-497749" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2>Ruling party hit</h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="text">
<div class="">
<p><p>Iswaran, 61, joined Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong&#8217;s cabinet as a junior minister in 2006 and held trade and communications portfolios before becoming transport minister in May 2021.</p>
<p>The last corruption case involving a minister was in 1986 when the national development minister was investigated for allegedly accepting bribes. The minister died before he could be charged in court.</p>
<p>Singapore is due to hold elections by 2025. In August, Lee admitted his ruling People&#8217;s Action Party (PAP) had taken a hit over the graft probe and the resignations of two senior PAP lawmakers on account of an &#8220;inappropriate relationship&#8221;.</p>
<p>The party is also due for a leadership transition with Lee promising to hand the baton to his successor Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong by November.</p>
<p>Addressing local media on Thursday, Wong acknowledged the graft case&#8217;s negative impact on the PAP but said it would not affect leadership transition plans.</p>
<p>&#8220;We are disappointed by what has happened. We are saddened. We are disappointed that&nbsp;Iswaran&nbsp;had to leave politics under these circumstances. But the PAP stance on corruption is non-negotiable,&#8221; said Wong.</p>
<p>&#8220;We have announced that the leadership transition will take place before the next general election and before the party conference this year. This plan remains on track.&#8221;</p>
<p>Referring to&nbsp;Iswaran&#8217;s case at a PAP event last November, Lee said the party must &#8220;show Singaporeans and the world that after half a century in government, the PAP’s standards remain as high as ever&#8221;.</p>
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-497750" name="segment-497750" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2>Catch up on the latest news on SAYS:</h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="related-source source-related">
<div>
<div class="related-thumb" style="padding-bottom: 10px">
<div class="aspect-ratio-says" style="background-image: url(&quot;https://i.postimg.cc/Y2GBhgDR/Software-Engineer-Seeks-Help-To-Find-Wife-Who-s-Been-Missing-For-14-Days-After-Taiwan-Trip.jpg&quot;);"><a href="https://says.com/my/news/software-engineer-seeks-help-find-wife-s-missing-14-days-taiwan-trip" class="ga-curator-related">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<div class="related-content">
<h6><a href="https://says.com/my/news/software-engineer-seeks-help-find-wife-s-missing-14-days-taiwan-trip" class="ga-curator-related">Software Engineer Seeks Help To Find Wife Who&#8217;s Been Missing For 14 Days After Taiwan Trip</a></h6>
<p>Authorities are led to believe that the victim may be in Laos.</p>
</div>
<div class="related-content"><span class="meta-domain pull-left"><img decoding="async" src="https://says.com/favicon-16x16.png"></span><span class="meta-domain pull-right">Read the full story<i class="icon-angle-right"></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="related-source source-related">
<div>
<div class="related-thumb" style="padding-bottom: 10px">
<div class="aspect-ratio-says" style="background-image: url(&quot;https://cms.says.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/420e-1.png&quot;);"><a href="https://says.com/my/entertainment/award-winning-malaysian-film-tiger-stripes-streaming-on-netflix-on-february-15" class="ga-curator-related">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<div class="related-content">
<h6><a href="https://says.com/my/entertainment/award-winning-malaysian-film-tiger-stripes-streaming-on-netflix-on-february-15" class="ga-curator-related">Award-Winning Malaysian Film &#8216;Tiger Stripes&#8217; Coming To Netflix On 15 February</a></h6>
<p>The film was previously screened in local cinemas.</p>
</div>
<div class="related-content"><span class="meta-domain pull-left"><img decoding="async" src="https://says.com/favicon-16x16.png"></span><span class="meta-domain pull-right">Read the full story<i class="icon-angle-right"></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="related-source source-related">
<div>
<div class="related-thumb" style="padding-bottom: 10px">
<div class="aspect-ratio-says" style="background-image: url(&quot;https://images.says.com/uploads/story/cover_image/67090/89ba.jpg&quot;);"><a href="https://says.com/my/news/man-tears-up-as-he-watches-his-home-and-surau-being-demolished-to-give-way-for-ecrl" class="ga-curator-related">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<div class="related-content">
<h6><a href="https://says.com/my/news/man-tears-up-as-he-watches-his-home-and-surau-being-demolished-to-give-way-for-ecrl" class="ga-curator-related">Man Tears Up As He Watches His Home And Surau Being Demolished To Give Way For ECRL</a></h6>
<p>&#8220;I am very sad because the surau was built with my hard work, with no assistance from the state or federal government,&#8221; Najib said.</p>
</div>
<div class="related-content"><span class="meta-domain pull-left"><img decoding="async" src="https://says.com/favicon-16x16.png"></span><span class="meta-domain pull-right">Read the full story<i class="icon-angle-right"></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</article>


Singapore Transport Minister Charged For Allegedly Accepting RM1.3M From Business Tycoon

<article>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-495292" name="segment-495292" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2></h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="text">
<div class="">
<p><i>Follow us on <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/saysdotcom/">Instagram</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@saysdotcom">TikTok</a>, and <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VZzynzi6RGJG0QbRfy3O">WhatsApp</a> for the latest stories and breaking news.</i></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-495293" name="segment-495293" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2>On Wednesday, 3 January, the Shah Alam High Court reduced the sentence of a former judge from six months to one day of jail for the crime of receiving RM5,000 without consideration</h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="text">
<div class="">
<p>According to the <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2024/01/996812/high-court-sentenced-ex-judge-day-jail-corruption">New Straits Times,</a>&nbsp;Judge Hasbullah Adam dismissed 50-year-old Azmil Muntapha Abas&#8217; appeal to challenge&nbsp;Session Court&#8217;s conviction in October 2022 against him, as he found no meritorious reason to do so.</p>
<p>&#8220;I found that the conviction is sound and decided that the appeal against the conviction is dismissed.</p>
<p>&#8220;However, the court allowed the appeal against the sentence by setting aside the lower court&#8217;s sentence and replacing it with <b>a one-day imprisonment</b> and <b>a fine of RM12,000</b>,&#8221; Hasbullah said.</p>
<p>He explained that Azmil was found guilty under Section 165 of the Penal Code for accepting any valuable items without consideration, which is punishable by up to two years in jail or a fine, or both. However, he noted that the provision does not mandate imprisonment.</p>
<p>&#8220;This is different from Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which stipulates a maximum imprisonment of 20 years and a fine five times the value of the gratification,&#8221; Hasbullah added.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-495294" name="segment-495294" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2>In October 2022, Session Court judge Rasyihah Ghazali originally sentenced Azmil to six months in jail and fined him RM25,000</h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="text">
<div class="">
<p>In his judgement, Rasyihah said Azmil&#8217;s defence failed to raise a reasonable doubt against the prosecution&#8217;s case.</p>
<p>Azmil was found guilty, in his capacity as the Kuala Kubu Bharu Session Court judge, of obtaining RM5,000 from a person whom he knew had a connection with his official function involving court proceedings for six accused in criminal cases.</p>
<p>The six accused were charged under Section 9 of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.</p>
<p>Azmil was granted a stay of execution pending an appeal at the High Court, with the bail amount increased from RM6,000 to RM12,000.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="each-segment">
    <a id="segment-495299" name="segment-495299" class="segment-anchor"></a></p>
<div class="banner-wrap d-lg-block d-none">
</div>
<div class="segment-head">
<h2>Catch up on the latest stories on SAYS:</h2>
</div>
<div class="segment-body">
<div class="related-source source-related">
<div>
<div class="related-thumb" style="padding-bottom: 10px">
<div class="aspect-ratio-says" style="background-image: url(&quot;https://images.says.com/uploads/story/cover_image/66754/bb35.png&quot;);"><a href="https://says.com/my/lifestyle/highest-fresh-grad-salary-companies-malaysia" class="ga-curator-related">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<div class="related-content">
<h6><a href="https://says.com/my/lifestyle/highest-fresh-grad-salary-companies-malaysia" class="ga-curator-related">These Companies Offer The Highest Starting Salaries For Fresh Grads In Malaysia</a></h6>
<p>Did you know: Fresh grad salaries have increased by 30% since 2020?</p>
</div>
<div class="related-content"><span class="meta-domain pull-left"><img decoding="async" src="https://says.com/favicon-16x16.png"></span><span class="meta-domain pull-right">Read the full story<i class="icon-angle-right"></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="related-source source-related">
<div>
<div class="related-thumb" style="padding-bottom: 10px">
<div class="aspect-ratio-says" style="background-image: url(&quot;https://images.says.com/uploads/story/cover_image/66801/4822.png&quot;);"><a href="https://says.com/my/news/man-killed-spreading-nude-photos" class="ga-curator-related">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<div class="related-content">
<h6><a href="https://says.com/my/news/man-killed-spreading-nude-photos" class="ga-curator-related">Man Killed In Rawang For Spreading Friend&#8217;s Nude Photos</a></h6>
<p>Eight suspects aged between 19 and 46 were apprehended by the police.</p>
</div>
<div class="related-content"><span class="meta-domain pull-left"><img decoding="async" src="https://says.com/favicon-16x16.png"></span><span class="meta-domain pull-right">Read the full story<i class="icon-angle-right"></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="related-source source-related">
<div>
<div class="related-thumb" style="padding-bottom: 10px">
<div class="aspect-ratio-says" style="background-image: url(&quot;https://images.says.com/uploads/story/cover_image/66803/94fc.jpg&quot;);"><a href="https://says.com/my/news/she-doesnt-remember-im-her-husband-msian-laments-wife-wakes-up-surgery" class="ga-curator-related">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<div class="related-content">
<h6><a href="https://says.com/my/news/she-doesnt-remember-im-her-husband-msian-laments-wife-wakes-up-surgery" class="ga-curator-related">&#8220;She Doesn&#8217;t Remember I&#8217;m Her Husband&#8221; — Man Laments After Wife Loses Memory From Surgery</a></h6>
<p>The husband shared that his wife often recalls events from before 2018 and believes her late family members are still alive.</p>
</div>
<div class="related-content"><span class="meta-domain pull-left"><img decoding="async" src="https://says.com/favicon-16x16.png"></span><span class="meta-domain pull-right">Read the full story<i class="icon-angle-right"></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</article>


High Court Reduces Ex-Judge's 6 Month Jail Sentence To 1 Day For Pocketing RM5,000