Ex-cop had sex with 2 prostitutes without disclosing that he is HIV-positive

Shaffiq Alkhatib
The Straits Times
Feb 14, 2019

A former policeman, who was infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), had sex with two prostitutes in Singapore but did not inform the women about his condition.

Instead, he sent an e-mail to the Ministry of Health (MOH) on April 4, 2017, stating that he had sex with a prostitute whom he suspected of having a sexually transmitted disease.

He then asked the authorities to investigate and repatriate her.

He sent another e-mail four days later, revealing that he is HIV-positive.

He also stated that he was having sex with the woman when his condom broke.

The information was later referred to the MOH's Surveillance and Enforcement Branch for further investigations. HIV can lead to Aids, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.

The man, 52, who cannot be named due to a gag order and is now working as a security officer, pleaded guilty on Wednesday (Feb 13) to two charges under the Infectious Diseases Act.

He also admitted to one count each of knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution and allowing his rented apartment to be used as a brothel.

Court documents did not reveal the women's current HIV status and when the man left the Singapore Police Force.

The reason behind his departure from the force was also not revealed in court documents.

The court heard that the women, both Chinese nationals, would not have engaged in sexual activities with him had they known about his condition.

The man first suspected that he had contracted HIV in Thailand in 2003 but did not seek treatment until he was formally diagnosed five years later.

On Jan 14, 2017, he entered into a tenancy agreement for the apartment in Geylang.

He later informed members of a group on messaging app WeChat stating that the unit was for rent at $80 per day. Most members of the group were sex workers, the court heard.

He sent the e-mails in April that year. Court documents did not state why he sent them.

Subsequently, he wittingly allowed three Chinese nationals, between 33 and 39 years old, to provide sexual services in the apartment between June 22 and July 11, 2017.

He also advised the trio to be careful about their clients so that they would not get caught by undercover police officers.

He had sex with one of the women in June 2017 and engaged the services of the other the following month.

The man was offered bail of $15,000 and will be back in court on April 5.