Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for Public Services, Chan Chun Sing, told parliament on Tuesday that eight civil servants have been referred to the police for further investigation. The referral follows a review of a research paper that alleged some officials and their relatives used privileged planning information to purchase homes near planned train stations.
Background of the study
The paper, released by the National Bureau of Economic Research in the United States, examined property transactions by 191 civil servants between 2007 and 2014. It claimed that these officials bought S$270 million (about $210 million) worth of property close to future train stations before the projects were publicly announced.
According to the study, 113 purchases were made by civil servants within two years before a station announcement, and a further 108 purchases were made by their relatives within three years before an announcement. The authors described the gains from what they called “informed trading” as substantial.
Government response
Chan emphasized that a police referral does not equate to a finding of wrongdoing. “Public officers must never use information obtained through their official duties to advance their own private interests,” he said. “The integrity of the public service and the public’s trust in it are fundamental. We therefore take allegations of misuse of official information seriously, but we must also proceed on the basis of evidence and due process.”
The government had previously announced that it was reviewing the paper and that any proven misconduct would be referred to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau. Chan added that the referral to police reflects the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
Context of graft in Singapore
Singapore is widely regarded as having a low level of corruption, a reputation that supports its status as a major Asian financial hub. Junior cabinet ministers earn up to S$1.8 million a year, and recent salary adjustments have raised the prime minister’s compensation by 64% to S$2.85 million.
Nevertheless, the government has not shied away from pursuing corruption cases. In 2024, former Transport Minister S. Iswaran was sentenced to jail for obstructing justice and accepting more than S$300,000 in gifts.
What comes next?
The police investigation will determine whether any of the eight civil servants breached the law. If evidence of misconduct is found, the case will be handed to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau for possible prosecution.
Singapore’s approach underscores the nation’s dedication to upholding the rule of law and maintaining public confidence in its civil service, even when allegations arise from academic research rather than direct complaints.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
