On January 28, the Singapore Health Ministry (MOH) announced that US citizen Mikhy Farrera Brochez, an HIV-positive man who used to live in Singapore, leaked the names and personal information of 14,200 people in Singapore diagnosed with HIV.
According to reports, Brochez was the partner of Ler Teck Siang, a Singaporean doctor who had access to the country's HIV registry as the former head of the National Public Health Unit. Authorities have not revealed the motivation behind Brochez' leaking of the data.
"Should MOH now make known all that Brochez may (or may not) still have in his possession? Do we contact every person whose data may (or may not) be at risk? And in the process inflict more harm on people even though it may ultimately turn out that Brochez in fact does not have the information?" Gan said.
Brochez, who was deported from Singapore in April 2018 to an unspecified country, is currently under police investigation.
"MOH takes a grave view of such matters and will not hesitate to take stern action against staff and other individuals who abuse their authority and access to confidential information, or fail to handle such information in a proper manner," Gall noted.
"We are seeking the assistance of our foreign counterparts in our investigations. It is inappropriate to comment on the case further, as investigations are ongoing… Police will not hesitate to take stern action, including prosecution," Gall continued, also adding that "police will spare no effort pursuing all avenues to bring Brochez to justice."