SINGAPORE: A former lecturer has been charged with lying about his HIV status years ago for a chance to work in Singapore.
American psychologist Mikhy K Farrera-Brochez, who lectured in two local polytechnics, allegedly hid his HIV status to gain an Employment Pass in March 2008.
It has been reported that he set up a private practice in Singapore as a child psychologist in 2008, before taking up positions at two local polytechnics.
Channel NewsAsia understands he has also worked with the World Health Organization.
Farrera-Brochez handed in an HIV negative blood test result to the Manpower Ministry on Mar 20, 2008 for his Employment Pass (EP) application. The test had allegedly been conducted with another’s blood.
Farrera-Brochez was charged in June this year with multiple offences spanning six years, including for lying to the Manpower Ministry and the police about his HIV status, refusing to undergo a medical examination, using a forged passport and taking drugs.
Court documents allege the 31-year-old fooled the Manpower Ministry into accepting an HIV blood test result in his name twice – once in 2008 and again in 2013 – “knowing that the (test) had been conducted on another person’s blood”.
The ministry would not have granted an EP had it known Farrera-Brochez’s true HIV status, his charge sheet stated.
The psychologist has also been charged with allegedly lying to two public servants – the Controller of Work Passes in 2009 and a police officer in 2014.
In the former case, Farrera-Brochez allegedly falsely declared his HIV status on an application form for an EP; in the latter, he allegedly told the police it was his blood which was tested during a 2008 HIV blood test.
Farrera-Brochez faces another two counts for allegedly failing to submit to a medical examination at the Police Cantonment Complex – once in 2014 and again in April this year. Under the Infectious Diseases Act, a person who is suspected to be HIV-positive is required to undergo a medical examination, court documents state.
The former lecturer also faces three drug-related charges for the possession and consumption of ketamine and amphetamine in May this year, and one count for using a forged passport in 2008, bringing the total number of charges he faces to 11.
Farrera-Brochez will next appear in court on Aug 18. His lawyer could not be reached for comment.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
