“Iswaran Appeals for Access to Statements of All 56 Witnesses in Court Hearing “

In a high-profile court appearance on July 5, former transport minister S. Iswaran, who faces 35 charges related to alleged acceptance of items valued over $400,000, sought a directive from the court to compel the prosecution to provide conditioned statements for all 56 of its witnesses. Conditioned statements are written records of evidence instead of oral testimonies.

Iswaran’s defense, led by Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, argued that withholding these statements undermines transparency and hinders case preparation. However, the prosecution, represented by Deputy Attorney-General Tai Wei Shyong, countered that it had already provided essential materials, including a witness list, exhibits, and 66 statements recorded from Iswaran. Tai emphasized that the prosecution’s approach aligns with statutory disclosure requirements and is not intended to withhold evidence or surprise the defense.

Singh contended that withholding conditioned statements compromises fairness, adding that Iswaran has remained committed to a swift and transparent trial. Justice Vincent Hoong reserved judgment, scheduling a decision for a later date.