We’re taught from a very young age that friendship prevails.
“Now, we’re the best of friends!”
“And we shall be until the end of time!”
“To friendship and beyond!”
You know, the standard works.
But here’s the thing. While there are certainly positive friendships in this world, and perhaps even friendships of a questionable nature, there are some that…
Ultimately do more harm than good.
Ex-Starhub Employee Jailed for Obtaining Customer Details Illegally for His Friend
Zhang Jiazheng, 39, was a customer care consultant who worked for telecommunications company Starhub between 2015 and 2017.
As someone who was responsible for verifying re-contract eligibility for existing customers, he naturally had access to the system.
Including customer details.
Meanwhile, Lee Cheng Yan was an individual who had lent people money.
Having helped people with their drinking and gambling sessions, he wished to recoup his loans.
As fate would have it, these two attended the same secondary school, and even after graduating, had met occasionally for drinks and meals.
Around 2015, Lee asked Zhang for help:
Retrieve customer details from Starhub’s system, through the use of customers’ mobile numbers.
As for Lee’s reasoning? He wished to get his money back from his debtors.
And despite knowing that it was wrong, Zhang ultimately agreed. Over the course of nine occasions, he logged into Starhub’s portals to retrieve the addresses of subscribers.
Suffice to say; the subscribers who had their details leaked were eventually found themselves harassed with unwelcome calls, text messages and even individuals knocking on their doorsteps.
Sentencing
In court, Zhang’s lawyer stated that he was “just helping a friend”, and regrets his endeavour.
He also pointed out that Zhang is now jobless, and has a young child. The accused was also reportedly a frontline worker who worked “in the face of danger” during the pandemic.
However, the prosecutor noted how Zhang’s previous occupation as a frontline worker was not a mitigating factor.
He added that Zhang had actually wanted to claim trial, but had faltered after witnessing the strong evidence against him.
The judge ultimately ruled the case in the prosecution’s favour.
Zhang was sentenced to 10 weeks’ jail today (20 September 2021).
Another Instance
Meanwhile, Zhang is not the only individual to be sentenced for corrupted negotiations with Lee.
Another individual, Kelvin Foo Cheek Ann, was previously sentenced to 18 weeks in jail for retailing customer details (which he had gotten through Singtel’s system) to Lee.
Even though he knew it was “wrong”, he had gone ahead to sell customers’ details for S$20 each, including Lee’s ex-girlfriend’s.
Lee Currently Facing Prison Time For Another Reason
As for Lee, he’s currently facing four years and seven months in prison for towing a traffic police officer along the road in his Maserati.
Staff Sergeant Khairulanwar Abd Kahar had noticed that Lee wasn’t wearing his seatbelt.
He tried to stop the car but Lee refused to comply. It was only when the lights turned red that the car stopped, and SSG Khairulanwar parked his motorcycle in the Maserati’s way.
He went to the driver’s side and Lee wound down his window.
However, when the lights turned green, Lee suddenly reversed and drove off.
Unfortunately, the TP officer’s arm was trapped in the window and he got dragged along for the ride.
SSG Khairulanwar ended up being dragged for 124 metres before he got free and rolled to the side of the road.
For more info on the case, you can read it here.
In addition to Lee’s prison sentence, he was also fined S$3,700 and incurred a lifetime driving ban.
He will face charges pertaining to Foo and Zhang’s cases in October. He had previously failed an appeal against his sentence and conviction in May 2021.
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Feature Image: Terence Toh Chin Eng / Shutterstock.com
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