SINGAPORE: A former male nurse who allegedly stole bank account information from his patients faces charges in court of fraud, theft and unauthorized access to computer data.
Police said in a statement on January 21 that the suspect, 23, was a Woodlands public health nurse assigned to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital at the time of the crime.
The nurse was arrested after a former patient at Ng Teng Phong General Hospital discovered that several fraudulent transactions had been made using her bank card details and informed the police.
While in the hospital, the victim woke up to find an unknown man rummaging through her belongings, but she was too sleepy to check her belongings at the time.
Officers from Jurong Police Station investigated the matter, identified and arrested the nurse after a police report was filed.
Further investigation revealed that the nurse may have been involved in similar incidents involving other patients at the hospital, resulting in the victim losing more than $12,000, police said.
It added that the man had abused the trust expected of healthcare workers, gaining access to patients’ bank account details, even through mobile phones, and “committed a myriad of crimes”.
He faces charges of unauthorized modification to a computer and unauthorized access to computer material, as well as consolidated charges of fraud and unauthorized access with intent to commit or facilitate theft.
If found guilty of fraud, he could face fines and up to 10 years in prison.
If found guilty of theft, the person could be fined, imprisoned for up to three years, or both.
If found guilty of unauthorized modification of computer material, you may be subject to a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both.
If found guilty of unauthorized access to computer materials, you could be subject to a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both.
If found guilty of accessing with the intent to commit or facilitate a crime, you could be subject to a fine of up to $50,000, imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.
In September 2023, a 38-year-old nurse at Mount Elizabeth Novina Hospital was sentenced to six months in prison for stealing a colleague’s debit card.
She hid the card in the staff locker room and used it to buy pots and bird’s nests. – Straits Times/ANN