HIV-positive man gets 15 months' jail for not telling partner

HIV-positive man gets 15 months' jail for not telling partner

SINGAPORE - An HIV-positive man was sentenced to 15 months' jail on Friday for having sex with a partner without telling him that he was infected.

The defendant, a young bespectacled man, had pleaded guilty last month to engaging in sexual activity at the same time with the victim, who is a homosexual, and an unknown man without alerting the victim of the risk of contracting the infection and getting him to agree to accept that risk.

The offence took place at his residence on April 8 this year.

The court heard that the defendant, a student, was notified that he has HIV infection in mid-February this year.

Investigation showed that the victim and the defendant got to know each other through an online gay website.

The defendant had suggested meeting with the victim and another person for a "threesome'' sexual intercourse.

That afternoon, the victim went to the defendant's home. When the third member came, the trio engaged in sexual activity with each other.

The defendant asked for his sentence to be deferred until he completes his studies in the first week of December.

The court has adjourned the case till Wednesday for the Ministry of Health's response to his deferment request. The defendant's bail has beenn extended until then.

Two other similar charges were taken into consideration.

The maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and 10 years' jail.


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