Singapore’s Official Secrets Act Turns a Librarian into a Pro‑Leak Star
Picture this: you’re a senior library manager, sorting out books and events, when suddenly you’re slapped with a crime charge because you’d sent a WhatsApp group the government’s “secret” plans a week before the press office did. That’s the reality for Chua Wee‑Lin, a 51‑year‑old deputy director from the National Library Board (NLB).
Case 1 – Chua Wee‑Lin
- Position: Deputy Director, Property & Facilities Management, NLB
- What happened: On June 11th, Chua leaked the gov’t’s Phase‑2 reopening details to a WhatsApp group of 18 people.
- Result: The info got shared across the group before the official announcement, making it a hot topic on every chat.
- Charge: One offence – “communicating information to persons he wasn’t authorised to share it with.”
- Legal fallout: The police warned six other members who passed the info onward. Chua is on a $5,000 bail and will be back in court on June 16.
Not exactly a polished bookworm reputation, but it’s a case that reminds us all (even librarians) that confidentiality is no joke.
Case 2 – Noorain Jubli & Khairul Annuar Zakaria
- Roles: Noorain was the personal assistant to the food agency’s head; Khairul the husband.
- What happened: Noorain got ahold of a draft press release about Covid school closures, then slipped it into her husband’s inbox. He, in true “helpful spouse” fashion, forwarded it to his friends.
- Charges for Noorain: Two counts – wrongful communication.
- Charges for Khairul: Two counts – one for wrongful communication, one for “soliciting” the share.
Both were caught before the releases hit the world’s feeds. The lesson: even domestic mail‑x‑change can be on the wrong side of the law.
Case 3 – Zhao Zheng & Tang Lin
- Position: Former deputy lead, Ministry of Health.
- What happened: Zhao was accused of leaking the country’s Covid‑19 daily case numbers 22 times in the past year.
- Charge: 24 offences under the Official Secrets Act.
- Companion: Tang Lin, 36, allegedly urged Zhao to help her check on a COVID‑positive patient’s status.
Another swirl of broken chain‑of‑command – politics, health data, and personal pleas all tangled in one legal web.
Why is the Official Secrets Act (OSA) a thing of the day?
These recent cases all showcase the Singaporean government’s tightening grip on sensitive data. The OSA is like the country’s personal privacy guard: if you cross the line, you can get charged, even if you’re a librarian or an assistant.
And yes, learning about all this might sound like a boring legal lecture. But the wow factor is real: a 51‑year‑old library manager, a food agency PA, a health official — each triggered legal action for the same fundamental cause: sharing info you shouldn’t have.
What can we learn?
- Always check your clearance before sharing: Even if you think the info is “not that secret” you might be wrong.
- Phone group chats are risky: One post and it’s spread like wildfire.
- Diversion isn’t a defense: No matter how harmless your motive, the law sticks.
So next time you’ve got that juicy scoop that’s still under wraps, remember the library manager’s headline: “How a librarian hit the headlines for leaking more than a book’s cover.” And keep all your secrets safe, folks.
