HIV data leak: Mikhy Brochez charged in US with threatening to extort Singapore government
The American conman at the heart of the data leak from the Singapore HIV registry has been charged in the United States with threatening to extort the Singapore government.
Mikhy K Farrera Brochez, who is currently remanded, was charged in a federal court in Kentucky on Wednesday (27 February), according to media reports.
He had been arrested and charged last week with possession and unlawful transfer of stolen personal data.
Brochez, 34, allegedly threatened to release data from the HIV registry if his Singaporean partner Ler Teck Siang was not released.
In 2017, Brochez was sentenced to 28 months’ jail in Singapore for fraud and drug-related crimes. He was deported after serving sentence.
Among other things, he deceived the authorities in Singapore into issuing him with an employment pass in 2008 by submitting a false HIV-negative test result, in cahoots with Ler, 37. Foreigners with HIV are not allowed to work in Singapore.
Last month, Brochez was named by the Ministry of Health (MOH) as the culprit behind a massive HIV registry leak containing confidential data of 14,200 HIV-positive individuals as well as 2,400 others who were identified through contact tracing.
Ler was a former head of the MOH’s National Public Health Unit who oversaw the HIV registry. He and Brochez were married in New York City in April 2014.
Last year, Ler was sentenced to two years’ jail for abetting Brochez to commit cheating, and also of providing false information to the police and the MOH. His appeal against conviction and sentence is expected to be heard in March. The prosecution is also appealing for a higher sentence.
In addition, Ler faces drug-related charges, with the case scheduled to be heard again on 29 May. He has indicated that he would claim trial to these charges.
Ler has also been charged under the Official Secrets Act for failing to take reasonable care of confidential information regarding HIV-positive patients. His case under the OSA is pending the outcome of his other cases.
Brochez will appear in a US court again on 4 March for allegedly trespassing on his mother’s property last year.
Related stories:
HIV-positive status of 14,200 people leaked online by American fraudster: Singapore MOH
Singapore’s HIV data leak: A recap of what we know so far
Singapore’s HIV data leak: 5 burning questions to ask MOH and others
HIV data leak: American conman also taught at Ngee Ann Polytechnic
HIV data leak: MOM takes ‘risk-based approach’ in assessing employment pass applications
HIV data leak: Affected persons can sue MOH but proving damages would be hard, lawyers say
HIV data leak: ‘Mikhy Brochez’ Facebook account removed for violating user policies
No system able to ‘exhaustively exclude’ those out to lie and cheat: MOE on Mikhy Brochez
