Man charged in HIV leak has local court date for trespassing
Published 9:42 am Wednesday, February 20, 2019
A Lexington man facing charges in Singapore for allegedly leaking personal information from the nation’s HIV registry made his first court appearance on local trespassing charges.
Mikhy Farrera Brochez, 34, was arrested in December and charged with third-degree criminal trespassing for allegedly refusing to leave his mother’s property. According to court documents, it was the second time Brochez had been asked to leave the property, and he was arrested for third-degree criminal trespassing.
According to Singapore media, Brochez and his husband, Ler Tek Siang, are both connected to the data leak.
In January, Singapore’s Health Ministry identified Brochez as the prime suspect in the case.
Brochez was deported in April 2018 after serving a 28-month prison term for drug and fraud charges, including falsifying a blood test.
Allegedly, Siang falsified Brochez’s blood test so he could work in Singapore as a lecturer. Singapore does not grant work permits to foreigners who are HIV positive.
According to Channel News Asia, Brochez said he contracted HIV after he was “gang-raped in prison” and claimed the government is interfering with the case.
The data leak reportedly included personal information of more than 14,000 people, both Singapore citizens and visiting foreigners, diagnosed with HIV between 1985 and December 2011.
Siang had access to the registry while he was the head of the National Public Health Unit.
Monday in Clark District Court, Judge Charles Hardin continued Brochez’s trial until March 4. He remains free on bond.