Officer Convicted of Misuse of Power
A 29-year-old Singaporean traffic police officer, Shivasuria Maniam Kesaval, has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for abusing his position to access confidential government databases. According to reports from Channel News Asia and The Straits Times, the officer provided sensitive information to his friend, 25-year-old Brayden Ong Ying Shan, who used the data to identify and intimidate his ex-girlfriend.
The Investigation and Breach
The case began in July 2022 when Ong was apprehended by traffic police for driving without a valid license. Following his arrest, Ong contacted Shivasuria to confirm his suspicion regarding who had reported him to the authorities. Leveraging his access to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) internal systems, Shivasuria retrieved the personal particulars of the informant—Ong’s ex-girlfriend—and shared the original report with him.
Armed with this information, Ong sent death threats to the woman, even suggesting he would use his “high-ranking” police contact to investigate her family members. The breach was discovered during a subsequent investigation, leading to Shivasuria’s suspension in August 2022.
Conviction and Aftermath
District Judge Lim Tse Haw convicted both men, dismissing their claims of innocence and citing a lack of remorse. During the trial, prosecutors argued that the pair consistently lied and attempted to disparage the integrity of the public servants involved in the investigation. Shivasuria was found guilty of four counts under the Computer Misuse Act and one count under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).
Brayden Ong, who was also convicted of criminal intimidation, has since absconded from Singapore. Authorities confirmed that he fled the country by boat in early June 2026, and an active warrant of arrest remains in effect. A court review regarding Ong’s status is scheduled for July 14.