Mixed reactions over continued media scrutiny over Iswaran

The continued scrutiny over Iswaran by the media has drawn mixed reactions from netizens.

The former transport minister began serving his 12-month prison sentence on 7 Oct after deciding not to appeal it.

Local news has been dominated by headlines about Iswaran being placed in a single-man jail cell, accompanied by a previously shared image of such a cell from MHA.

Several platforms also shared a photo that appears to show Iswaran in a police van on 7 October, on the way to Changi Prison.

These news reports detail the size of Iswaran’s cell - about 6.9 square metres including toilet space - and that he will sleep not on a bed but a straw mat, which is the standard treatment for all the inmates.

The Singapore Prison Service explained that they have put Iswaran in a one-man cell due to a higher safety and security risk of being housed with other inmates.

News outlets have been closely reporting the Iswaran saga since the start of the trial on 3 Oct, and many netizens have grown to see the coverage as sensationalist.

They saw his sentence as justice having been served, and felt that the media should move on.

On the other hand, many netizens show interest in the decision of the one-man cell - some consider it special treatment, while others view the isolation as potentially damaging to mental health.