A Sim Lim Square retailer has been sentenced to jail for selling illegal streaming devices (ISDs), marking the latest outcome from a large-scale anti-piracy enforcement operation in Singapore.
In a statement released by the Premier League, Lin Da, 36, formerly a director of Simder Trading and Business Pte Ltd, was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment under Section 150 of the Singapore Copyright Act 2021.
He faced four charges linked to the sale of devices that provided unlawful access to copyrighted content.
The devices enabled unauthorised access to Premier League football broadcasts, as well as movies and television programmes belonging to members of the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), the world’s leading anti-piracy coalition.
Simder Trading and Business Pte Ltd was also charged in relation to the offences and fined a total of SGD $40,000 across four charges.
This case marks the fourth sentencing arising from enforcement raids conducted at Sim Lim Square in 2022.
During those raids, authorities arrested 17 individuals and seized more than 2,500 illegal streaming devices.
The enforcement operations were led by the Intellectual Property Rights Branch (IPRB) of the Singapore Police Force, working closely with the Attorney-General’s Chambers and industry partners, including the Premier League.
Previous cases linked to the same raids resulted in significant penalties.
In October 2024, a 37-year-old Singaporean was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment and fined SGD $300,000.
This was followed in May 2025 by a six-month jail term and a fine of SGD $181,000 imposed on a 35-year-old Chinese national.
The most severe sentence to date was handed down in November 2025, when a 68-year-old offender was sentenced to 22 months’ imprisonment and fined SGD $384,000.
That case also involved the online sale of illegal streaming subscription services.
“This case is yet another strong example of Singapore’s stance on content protection, the sale of illegal streaming devices in Singapore will not be tolerated.” said Premier League General Counsel Kevin Plumb.
“We want to remind fans that the risks associated with piracy are not always immediately apparent, but they are real and damaging. Engaging with unauthorised services can expose users to serious issues, as personal security, privacy and financial information can be compromised.”
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) echoed these concerns.
Senior Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel Karyn Temple said piracy harms the creative economy by diverting revenue from legitimate markets and undermining jobs.
She added that the sentencing reflects Singapore’s resolve to protect creative industries and highlighted the importance of global collaboration through ACE.
The Premier League and ACE said they will continue working with local, regional and international authorities to combat piracy and ensure fans can access content through authorised channels.
The latest conviction sends a clear signal that piracy remains firmly in the crosshairs, as rights holders and authorities continue tightening enforcement against illegal streaming in Singapore.
MAIN PHOTO: SINGAPORE BUSINESS REVIEW