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Singapore vows to prosecute American over HIV data leak
SINGAPORE, Feb 12, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Singapore vowed Tuesday it will bring
back and prosecute an American man accused of leaking data on thousands of
people with HIV, after the breach caused widespread anger.
The health ministry announced last month that confidential information of
14,200 people diagnosed with the virus that causes AIDS had been dumped
online, with foreigners a majority of those affected.
Mikhy Farrera Brochez, an HIV-positive man who used to live in the city-
state, is believed to have obtained the information from his Singaporean
doctor partner, who had access to the ministry’s HIV Registry.
The data leak, which included people’s HIV status, names and addresses, has
provoked an outcry, especially among the LGBT community and NGOs involved in
the fight against AIDS.
Speaking in parliament Tuesday, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong described the
release of the data as a “reprehensible act” and promised authorities will do
all they can to bring him back to the city-state.
“Brochez is currently under police investigation for various offences,” Gan
said.
“The police are engaging their American counterparts and are seeking their
assistance in the investigations against Brochez. The police will spare no
effort pursuing all avenues to bring Brochez to justice.”
Singapore and the United States have an extradition treaty.
Brochez was jailed in Singapore in 2016 for lying about his HIV status,
drug-related offences and fraud. He was released and deported back to the US
in 2018 after serving his sentence.
Local media have traced his latest whereabouts to Clark County in Kentucky.
Gan said authorities did not know at the time of Brochez’s deportation that
he was in possession of the HIV data, and denied his ministry sought to cover
up the incident.
He said the ministry has worked with authorities to disable online access
to the data and continues to scour the internet to prevent it being released
again.
But he also warned it was possible Brochez still had more files in his
possession.
Foreigners with HIV were for many years not allowed to set foot in
Singapore at all. In 2015, authorities lifted the ban on foreigners with the
virus making short visits but those seeking to work in Singapore must still
pass a test.
The leak of HIV data was the second major breach of confidential
information disclosed within months, after the health records of about 1.5
million Singaporeans were stolen by hackers last year.
BSS/AFP/RY/1700 hrs