Not much could have been expected before S Iswaran's sentencing planned for this Thursday morning. It seemed we would just hear the verdict and wrap it all up, as the biggest news was ex-minister's guilty plea last week.
Instead, however, we witnessed a strong statement made by the judge on behalf of Singapore's entire justice system.
By dismissing proposals of both defence (8 weeks) and prosecution (6 to 7 months) and sending Iswaran to jail for a full year he demonstrated the independence of the local judiciary and emphasised that it's the court that decides the penalty, not bound by requests of either side, who may have made arrangements between each other behind the scenes.
Even if the charged enters a guilty plea, his crimes – given the elevated position of responsibility – will be judged with suitable severity.
The ruling is a symbolic gesture reassuring Singaporeans that the courts stand watch over the integrity of public office holders and will dispense justice in defence of the best interest of the society.
The judge stole the show today – but for commendable reasons, especially as this is a landmark case, which is going to set the standards for possible sentencing in the future (hopefully not for another 150 years, though).
After all, such a a show of force by the court also serves as deterrence.
PAP should be glad
While having one of your ministers sent behind bars for a year certainly doesn't look good, the silver lining in today's verdict is that it should relegate any conspiracy theories about the ruling party influencing the judiciary for political goals to the very fringes of the local political scene.
Had the judge merely followed the demands of the prosecution or ruled a compromise between two and seven months requested by both parties, it would have kept the judiciary in the background of this politically charged case.
As it is, however, he used the opportunity to show the public that local courts serve nobody and nothing else but justice.
And as it reinforces trust in them, it may also help to restore some of the trust lost by the PAP.
