Court
Ex-HDB group director, 58, charged for illegally accessing HDB database 161 times
She had reported a leak of confidential information in 2017 and a HDB officer was found to have contravened the Official Secrets Act.
September 16, 2026, 04:14 PM
Photos from Google Photos & Mothership
A 58-year-old former group director of the Housing & Development Board (HDB) was charged with accessing the agency’s database without authorisation and retaining documents.
Tan Chew Ling is facing two charges under the Computer Misuse Act and the Official Secrets Act.
She was charged on Aug. 5, 2026.
Breach
In charge sheets seen by Mothership, between Apr. 27 and 28, 2024, Tan allegedly accessed data held in a computer hosting the Housing Development Board’s Housing Management Submissions Database.
She apparently did so on 161 distinct occasions without authorisation.
Tan was the group director of HDB's Estate Administration and Property department at the time.
On Apr. 28, 2024, she allegedly illegally retained documents and information pertaining to seven HDB flats located at Kim Keat, Pasir Ris, Jalan Tiga, Dawson Road, Bedok North, Tampines and Shunfu Road.
Some documents also contained information on a compulsory acquisition of a home ownership flat, estimated rental income for a private property at Duo Residences on Fraser Street, and HDB's refusal to allow an objection to an intended compulsory acquisition of a home ownership flat.
She also purportedly obtained the information due to her position.
Report
According to The Straits Times, Tan previously reported a leak of confidential information in 2017.
She lodged a police report against an HDB officer in the resale operations arm who gave a journalist information about a project involving resale transactions.
The officer was subsequently fined S$2,000 for contravening the Official Secrets Act.
A check of the government directory revealed that Tan is no longer a group director at HDB.
