Key facts
- Singapore referred eight civil servants to the police for investigation.
- The referral follows a study alleging misuse of privileged planning information for housing transactions.
- The government reviewed 191 civil servants' property transactions between 2007 and 2014.
- A research paper claimed 113 property purchases were made by civil servants near planned train stations before announcements.
- Relatives of civil servants made another 108 purchases near planned stations before announcements, according to the study.
- Minister Chan Chun Sing emphasized the importance of public service integrity and due process.
Singapore has referred eight civil servants to the police for further investigation after a study alleged they used privileged planning information for housing transactions. Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing informed parliament on Tuesday that the referral does not confirm wrongdoing but is necessary due to the inability to exclude further review of these cases.
The government initiated a review of property transactions involving 191 civil servants between 2007 and 2014, prompted by a paper from the US-based National Bureau of Economic Research. The paper claimed that civil servants and their relatives purchased approximately S$270 million ($210 million) worth of property near planned train stations before the station locations were publicly announced.
Chan emphasized that public officers must not use information gained through their duties for private gain, highlighting the fundamental importance of public service integrity and public trust. The government stated it takes allegations of misuse of official information seriously and will proceed based on evidence and due process.
The research paper indicated 113 property purchases by civil servants and 108 by their relatives occurred in the years preceding the announcements of new train stations. The study, which is a working paper and has not undergone peer review, noted that these transactions were concentrated before 2011 and declined thereafter, suggesting substantial gains from informed trading.
Singapore, known for its low levels of corruption and high public sector salaries, is taking these allegations seriously. In a separate recent case, former transport minister S. Iswaran was jailed in 2024 for obstructing justice and accepting gifts.