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Ex-MOH doctor at heart of HIV data leak accused of administering 'Ice' to man in hotel room
Amir Hussain1 February 2019, 4:59 PM SGT
(Mugshot of Mikhy K Farrera Brochez (left: mugshots.com) and photo of Ler Teck Siang)
The Singaporean doctor at the heart of a massive data breach from the country’s HIV Registry is also accused of committing drug-related crimes.
Ler Teck Siang, 37, has indicated that he will claim trial to three such charges, including one count of trafficking the drug commonly known as “Ice”, which carries a mandatory minimum of five years’ jail and five strokes of the cane.
Ler, who has already been charged under the Official Secrets Act for failing to take reasonable care of confidential information, is alleged to have administered the controlled drug methamphetamine to a man by the name of Sim Eng Chee, local broadsheet The Straits Times first reported on Thursday (31 January).
According to his charge sheets, Ler allegedly gave Sim the drug in a hotel room at Swissotel The Stamford on 26 February last year.
A few days later, on 2 March, he was purportedly found with a syringe intended for use of a controlled drug at the lobby of another hotel, the Conrad Centennial Singapore.
About an hour later, Ler was asked to provide a urine sample at the Central Narcotics Bureau office in New Bridge Road. But he allegedly failed to do so in a timely manner and without reasonable excuse.
Ler has indicated that he intends to claim trial to the charges, and hearing is expected to begin on 29 May on the trafficking charge and the possession of drug-taking utensil charge.
On Monday (28 January), Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that the HIV-positive status of 14,200 people, along with their names, identification numbers and contact details, had been leaked online by American fraudster Mikhy K Farrera Brochez, 34, who was Ler’s partner.
Ler was the Head of MOH’s National Public Health Unit (NPHU) from March 2012 to May 2013 with access to the HIV Registry. He resigned from MOH in January 2014.
MOH said it got to know that Brochez had data from the HIV Registry in 2016. He was convicted of numerous crimes in early 2017 and was sentenced to 28 months’ jail. He was deported in April last year after serving his sentence.
In May 2018, after his deportation, MOH got to know that Brochez still had the confidential data but which it said had not been disclosed publicly. On 22 January this year, it was notified that the data had gone online.
Ler was sentenced to two years’ jail last year for abetting Brochez to commit cheating, and also of providing false information to the police and the health ministry. His appeal against conviction and sentence is expected to be heard in March. The prosecution is also appealing for a higher sentence.
For failing to take reasonable care of the HIV data, Ler has also been charged under the Official Secrets Act. His case under the OSA is pending.
If Ler were convicted of drug trafficking, he faces between five and 20 years’ jail, and between five and 15 strokes of the cane.
The possession of drug-taking utensils carries a maximum penalty of up to three years’ jail, along with a fine of up to $10,000.
The maximum punishment for failing to provide a urine sample for drug testing is up to 10 years’ jail, along with a fine of up to $20,000.
Amir Hussain1 February 2019, 4:59 PM SGT
(Mugshot of Mikhy K Farrera Brochez (left: mugshots.com) and photo of Ler Teck Siang)
The Singaporean doctor at the heart of a massive data breach from the country’s HIV Registry is also accused of committing drug-related crimes.
Ler Teck Siang, 37, has indicated that he will claim trial to three such charges, including one count of trafficking the drug commonly known as “Ice”, which carries a mandatory minimum of five years’ jail and five strokes of the cane.
Ler, who has already been charged under the Official Secrets Act for failing to take reasonable care of confidential information, is alleged to have administered the controlled drug methamphetamine to a man by the name of Sim Eng Chee, local broadsheet The Straits Times first reported on Thursday (31 January).
According to his charge sheets, Ler allegedly gave Sim the drug in a hotel room at Swissotel The Stamford on 26 February last year.
A few days later, on 2 March, he was purportedly found with a syringe intended for use of a controlled drug at the lobby of another hotel, the Conrad Centennial Singapore.
About an hour later, Ler was asked to provide a urine sample at the Central Narcotics Bureau office in New Bridge Road. But he allegedly failed to do so in a timely manner and without reasonable excuse.
Ler has indicated that he intends to claim trial to the charges, and hearing is expected to begin on 29 May on the trafficking charge and the possession of drug-taking utensil charge.
On Monday (28 January), Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that the HIV-positive status of 14,200 people, along with their names, identification numbers and contact details, had been leaked online by American fraudster Mikhy K Farrera Brochez, 34, who was Ler’s partner.
Ler was the Head of MOH’s National Public Health Unit (NPHU) from March 2012 to May 2013 with access to the HIV Registry. He resigned from MOH in January 2014.
MOH said it got to know that Brochez had data from the HIV Registry in 2016. He was convicted of numerous crimes in early 2017 and was sentenced to 28 months’ jail. He was deported in April last year after serving his sentence.
In May 2018, after his deportation, MOH got to know that Brochez still had the confidential data but which it said had not been disclosed publicly. On 22 January this year, it was notified that the data had gone online.
Ler was sentenced to two years’ jail last year for abetting Brochez to commit cheating, and also of providing false information to the police and the health ministry. His appeal against conviction and sentence is expected to be heard in March. The prosecution is also appealing for a higher sentence.
For failing to take reasonable care of the HIV data, Ler has also been charged under the Official Secrets Act. His case under the OSA is pending.
If Ler were convicted of drug trafficking, he faces between five and 20 years’ jail, and between five and 15 strokes of the cane.
The possession of drug-taking utensils carries a maximum penalty of up to three years’ jail, along with a fine of up to $10,000.
The maximum punishment for failing to provide a urine sample for drug testing is up to 10 years’ jail, along with a fine of up to $20,000.
