Updated:2024-10-08 12:49 Views:69
SINGAPORE: Former transport minister S Iswaran began his 12-month jail term on Monday (Oct 7) after surrendering at the State Courts ahead of a 4pm deadline to do so.x1 gaming
Dressed down in a short-sleeved navy shirt and dark pants, the 62-year-old was dropped off in a white Toyota Alphard with a relative at about 3.30pm.
He did not respond to questions from the media about how he felt, any preparations he had made or if he had any message for his former constituents.
He checked on a member of the media who fell down at a flight of steps where others had fallen during media scrums, before entering the court and taking the escalators up to the mentions court on the fourth floor.
A small group of supporters, including his bailor and some of his lawyers from Davinder Singh Chambers, had arrived minutes before and were waiting for him outside Court 4A, where he was to surrender. Iswaran's wife was not present.
When he arrived at the fourth floor, he hugged all seven members of the group, shaking their hands and expressing his appreciation to lawyer Navin Thevar.
He also hugged deputy public prosecutor-turned-defence lawyer Asoka Markandu when the latter appeared in court.
In contrast to previous court appearances where he appeared grim or contemplative, Iswaran seemed to be in a lighter mood on Monday afternoon, smiling and exchanging small talk with his supporters.
He was taken away to begin his jail term after a brief wait in the courtroom.
Iswaran was handed his sentence on Oct 3, with the judge almost doubling the jail term of six to seven months sought by the prosecution.
The 62-year-old said in a statement on Facebook earlier on Monday that he "will not be appealing the sentence handed down by the court".x1 gaming
S Iswaran arrives at the State Courts to surrender and begin his jail term on Oct 7, 2024. (Photo: CNA/Wallace Woon)