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American Mikhy K. Farrera-Brochez who pretended to be a professor in child psychology has lied to the authorities about his HIV status to land jobs at two Singapore polytechnics, as reported in The Straits Times.
He was sentenced to 28 months' jail yesterday where he pleaded guilty to a total of six charges, with 17 taken into consideration. Three other charges, which had been taken into consideration, were stood down to be mentioned at a later date.
Over a period of about eight years, he has been found to commit multiple offences - including cheating, lying to a public servant, possessing drugs and using forged educational certificates.
In 2008, Farrera-Brochez used his boyfriend’s blood (local general practitioner Ler Teck Siang) for an HIV test so it would result in a negative. Following that in 2008, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) issued Farrera-Brochez with an employment pass (EP), which he used to work as a polytechnic lecturer.
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Farrera-Brochez undertook similar activities in 2013, when he tried to apply for a personalised employment pass (PEP). Additionally, he was found guilty of possession of ketamine and cannabis mixture in May last year. Investigations further revealed that his various educational certificates, including one from the University of Paris, were forged.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Suhas Malhotra said that Farrera-Brochez knew that foreigners with HIV are not allowed to work here, and yet he had conspired with Ler to falsify the blood test results.
Malhotra commented: "The fact that the blood test was supposedly performed by a doctor and issued by a clinic gave it an aura of authority, making it virtually certain that MOM would be deceived.”
"His conduct evinces a blatant disregard for the authority of our laws,” he concluded.
Photo / 123RF
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