Three Charged with Alleged Offences Involving Leakage of Confidential Subscribers' Information
On 16 December 2020, three individuals were charged in Court for allegedly committing corruption and computer misuse offences. Foo Cheek Ann Kelvin (Fu Ji’an) and Zhang Jiazheng had allegedly assisted one Lee Cheng Yan (“Lee”) to retrieve confidential customer details (such as billing addresses) from Singtel and Starhub respectively without authority, while Lim Zong Xian Philbert (Lin Zongxian) had allegedly corruptly given Lee $1,000 for Lee’s assistance in procuring some of these confidential details. Their charges are summarised as follows:
a) Foo Cheek Ann Kelvin (Fu Ji’an) (符積安, a 32-year-old male Singapore Citizen, “Foo”), a Retail Consultant, Telecom Equipment Pte Ltd (a wholly-owned subsidiary of SingTel Mobile Singapore Pte Ltd (“Singtel”), at the material time
i. One count of corruptly agreeing to accept gratification of S$180 from Lee Cheng Yan sometime in 2016, in return for retrieving confidential Singtel customers’ details. This constituted an offence punishable under Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chapter 241.
ii. 15 counts of knowingly using a computer at his work place to secure access without authority, the data contained in Singtel’s system, information relating to the address of Lee’s ex-girlfriend and other Singtel subscribers sometime between 2014 and 2017. These constituted offences punishable under Section 3(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act, Chapter 50A.
b) Zhang Jiazheng (张嘉正, a 38-year-old male Singapore Citizen, “Zhang”), a Customer Care Consultant, Starhub Ltd (“Starhub”) at the material time;
i. 9 counts of knowingly using a computer at his work place to secure access without authority, the data contained in Starhub’s system, information relating to various Starhub subscribers’ details, sometime between 2015 and 2017. These constituted offences punishable under Section 3(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act, Chapter 50A.
c) Lim Zong Xian Philbert (Lin Zongxian), (林宗贤, a 33-year-old male Singapore Citizen, “Lim”)
i. 3 counts of corruptly giving gratification amounting to S$1,000 to Lee, as inducement for procuring confidential customers’ details from Starhub Ltd and Singtel, sometime in 2017. These constituted offences punishable under Section 5(b)(i) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chapter 241.
2. In connection with the alleged offences above, Lee Cheng Yan (李承彦, 37 years old, Singapore Citizen) was earlier charged in court in 2018 for the following:
i. One count of corruptly giving gratification of S$180 to Foo, in return for procuring confidential Singtel customers’ details, sometime in 2016. This constituted an offence punishable under Section 6(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chapter 241.
ii. 3 counts of corruptly receiving gratification amounting to S$1,000 from Lim, in return for procuring confidential customers’ details from Starhub Ltd and Singtel, sometime in 2017. This constituted an offence punishable under Section 5(a)(i) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chapter 241.
iii. 25 counts of abetment by instigating Foo and Zhang to knowingly use a computer at their respective work places to secure access without authority, the data contained in Singtel and Starhub’s systems, information relating to various Singtel and Starhub subscribers’ details, sometime between 2014 and 2017. These constituted offences punishable under Section 3(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act, Chapter 50A.
Lee’s case is still before the Court.
3. Singapore adopts a strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption. Any person who is convicted of a corruption offence can be fined up to $100,000 or sentenced to imprisonment of up to 5 years or to both.
4. The CPIB looks into all corruption complaints and reports, including anonymous ones, and can be reached via the following channels:
a) Call the Duty Officer at 1800-376-0000;
b) Lodge an e-Complaint;
c) Email us at report@cpib.gov.sg; or
d) Write to us at the CPIB Headquarters @ 2 Lengkok Bahru, S159047.
5. Where possible, the report should include the following information:
a) Where, when and how the alleged corrupt act happened?
b) Who was involved and what were their roles?
c) What was the bribe given and the favour shown?
Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau