Skip to main content

IMH Nurse Jailed for Violating Patient Privacy to Stalk Patient

 



A senior staff nurse at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Muhammad Hazrul Sani, was sentenced to one week in jail on January 24 for violating patient privacy under the Computer Misuse Act. Hazrul, 34, accessed a patient’s records through the hospital's system after noticing her Instagram post about an appointment with her psychiatrist.

Hazrul, who had worked at IMH since 2013, admitted to being attracted to the 29-year-old woman and wanting to get to know her. On October 25, 2022, he contacted her on Instagram, mentioning that he recognized the location in her photo as IMH. The next day, he messaged her again, addressing her by her real name—information he retrieved from the hospital's patient system.

Although the woman had not disclosed her real name on Instagram, Hazrul admitted to checking her records but claimed he did not read her file. Despite feeling uncomfortable, the woman initially responded cordially to avoid offending him. Over the next six days, Hazrul sent multiple messages, complimenting her appearance and referencing details from her medical records, including her psychiatrist's advice, prescribed medication, and upcoming appointments.

The situation escalated on October 31, 2022, when Hazrul messaged the woman about her upcoming appointment and suggested meeting after his shift. Uncomfortable with his persistence, the woman blocked him on Instagram. However, Hazrul continued to contact her, using her mobile number—retrieved from the hospital system—to send WhatsApp messages, including birthday wishes.

The woman reported the matter to her psychologist, prompting IMH to launch an internal investigation. It was revealed that Hazrul had accessed her records on nine separate occasions. His access to the patient system was disabled on December 27, 2022, and IMH filed a police report on January 10, 2023. Hazrul was dismissed from his position in March 2023.

In court, Hazrul expressed remorse, explaining that he acted impulsively due to personal issues, including a conflict with his ex-wife. He claimed he had sought comfort by confiding in the woman. However, after being fired, Hazrul messaged the woman again, blaming her for his job loss and stating that "karma" would affect her.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Sunil Nair recommended a fine of $4,000 to $5,000, arguing that Hazrul may have believed the woman did not view her information as private because she acquiesced to his actions and posted publicly about her appointment.

Principal District Judge Lee Lit Cheng disagreed, emphasizing the sensitive nature of psychiatric records, which contain deeply personal details such as family history, relationships, and life experiences. The judge highlighted the societal stigma surrounding mental health and noted that breaches of privacy could discourage patients from seeking help.

Calling Hazrul’s actions a serious breach of trust, Judge Lee sentenced him to one week in jail instead of a fine. The sentence reflects the gravity of violating patient confidentiality, particularly in the mental health sector, where privacy is crucial for fostering trust and encouraging treatment.

Labels:
Location: Singapore

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Son of Ex-NKF CEO, Charged in Global Insider Trading Ring

  Singaporean Dev Ananth Durai , 39, is currently a wanted man in the United States, facing an arrest warrant issued by the District Court of Massachusetts in connection with an ongoing, complex international insider trading probe spanning from 2016 to 2024. Dev is the son of former National Kidney Foundation (NKF) CEO T.T. Durai. Allegations and Network Involvement Dev Ananth Durai is one of eight suspects against whom charges were filed in Boston on November 1. Prosecutors allege that he was a key participant in a transnational criminal network responsible for illicit insider trades and fund laundering. Timeline and Profit: Dev allegedly joined the group in 2018. In one instance, he reportedly boasted to an unnamed suspect (CC12, one of 12 Singapore-based individuals linked to the probe) that he made US $250,000 (S$ 327,000) in a single trade. The Syndicate: The criminal network was allegedly ring-led by French national Samy Khouadja , and included German national Emma Safi a...
Post a Comment
Read more

HDB Fire in Holland Close Sends 2 Residents and 2 Firefighters to Hospital

  On June 19, 2025, a residential fire broke out in a high-floor unit of Block 5, Holland Close, Singapore. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded promptly to the emergency, which was reported at around 7:25pm. The fire originated from one of the bedrooms in a unit on the 23rd floor and resulted in four individuals being hospitalised. Firefighters from Alexandra Fire Station were dispatched to the scene and extinguished the fire using two water jets. Although the fire was contained within the bedroom, the rest of the flat sustained considerable damage from both heat and smoke. Two residents, who had already self-evacuated from the unit before SCDF’s arrival, were assessed on site and later conveyed to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) for treatment of smoke inhalation. During firefighting operations, two SCDF personnel experienced heat exhaustion. One was transported to SGH, while the other was taken to National University Hospital (NUH). Both firefighters were conscious...
Post a Comment
Read more

Major Drug Bust at Tuas Checkpoint Leads CNB to Tampines Residence Raid

  A joint operation conducted by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and the Central Narcotics Bureau resulted in the seizure of illicit drugs valued at more than one million Singapore dollars and the arrest of two suspects. The enforcement action commenced on September 23, 2026, when authorities intercepted a suspected drug smuggling attempt at Tuas Checkpoint, which subsequently led to a follow-up raid in Tampines. The initial interception occurred when Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officers at Tuas Checkpoint directed a Malaysia-registered motorcycle for enhanced inspection. During the search of the motorcycle's rear storage box, officers discovered sealed packets disguised with commercial biscuit labels that contained suspected controlled substances. Central Narcotics Bureau officers were alerted to the discovery and carried out additional checks on the vehicle, uncovering further concealed packets. The total volume of illicit substances seized from the Malaysia-r...
Post a Comment
Read more