(UTV|COLOMBO) – Confidential data about more than 14,000 people diagnosed with HIV, including foreign visitors, has been stolen in Singapore and leaked online.
Authorities revealed details about the 2016 health data breach on Monday (28).
They believe an HIV-positive American whose partner was a senior Singaporean Doctor is behind the leak.
Officials believe a 33-year-old United States citizen who lived in Singapore from 2008 is behind the leak.
Mikhy Farrera-Brochez was convicted and jailed for fraud and drug-related offences in 2016 and was deported last year.
He is the former partner of Ler Teck Siang, the former head of Singapore’s National Public Health Unit, who was convicted of helping Farrera-Brochez falsify his medical records to disguise his HIV-positive status.
Officials said Ler offered his own blood labelled as Farrera-Brochez’s to allow him entry to the country.
In a statement, the Health Ministry blamed Ler for the breach, accusing him of not complying with the policies regarding the handling of confidential data.
The hack comes just months after the records of 1.5 million Singaporeans, including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, were stolen last year.
Confidential information including names, addresses, HIV status and other medical information is reportedly included in the latest breach.
Officials say the details of 5,400 Singaporeans and 8,800 foreigners dating up to January 2013 have been compromised.
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