Singapore Wows Courts With a COVID Leak Drama
Who’s the “Data Whisperer”?
Tang Lin, 36, found herself in a legal mess after spilling the beans on the daily COVID‑19 numbers in Singapore. She’ve just been slapped with a $10,000 fine as she walked out of court on Friday, August 20.
What Went Down
- Wrongful Communication – Tang pleaded guilty to five counts under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).
- Four counts involved telling her coworkers numbers she got from her friend, Zhao Zheng, who was the deputy lead for data management at the Ministry of Health. Zhao was a bit of a data goose, sharing the info in a WeChat group where Tang was also lurking.
- The fifth count had Tang asking Zhao for private details about a COVID patient.
Judge’s Take
Principal District Judge Toh Han Li threw in a match‑of‑the‑yards sentence, considering five other OSA charges that Tang had previously taken on. He kept the fine tight but kept the door open for possible jail time (up to two years, per the law).
What About Zhao?
- Zhao’s case is still simmering with 24 OSA charges on the line.
- If the verdict genders further, we might see another plea‑dealing drama unfold.
OSA: The Fine Print
The Official Secrets Act lets the government leach out data with a heavy fine of up to $2,000 and a max prison stint of two years if you spill the “secret sauce.”
Origin Story
This scoop came through the Straits Times, so read up if you want the full legal lowdown.
