Tangled web of love and lies led to HIV data leak affecting many

Two men who met online and fell in love end up stripping thousands of their right to privacy

Ler Teck Siang (left) and Mikhy Farrera Brochez got married in New York City on April 24, 2014. They then returned to Singapore and in May that year, Brochez lied to a police inspector that it was his own blood that had been tested. PHOTO: FAITH MEDICAL GROUP, ST FILE
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It was a love story that progressed through a series of lies to the authorities.

When the lies were uncovered, and they were separated, one of them decided to make others pay for it - by revealing online the identities and details of 14,200 people who had HIV, like him.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 30, 2019, with the headline Tangled web of love and lies led to HIV data leak affecting many. Subscribe