The Premier League, which opened its first international office in Singapore in 2019, said Ge’s sentencing is the first-ever prosecution under section 150 of the Copyright Act 2021, which imposes liability for copyright infringement on commercial dealers of illegal streaming devices.

The prosecution also marks a significant milestone in the fight against piracy in Singapore, the league added, making clear there are severe consequences for businesses and individuals involved in selling and distributing copyrighted content, including the dealing of illegal streaming devices.

“The significant outcome of this case again confirms there are serious consequences for those supplying unauthorised access to Premier League football,” said Premier League general counsel Kevin Plumb.

“We welcome this landmark prosecution, which is the result of detailed investigations carried out in collaboration with the Singapore Attorney-General Chambers and the Intellectual Property Rights Branch of the Singapore Police Force.

“We thank them for their commitment and expertise in the investigations and prosecutions following the initial raids in 2022.”

The Premier League said it will continue to work closely with its official broadcast licensee StarHub and support Singapore law enforcement agencies and authorities in combatting piracy.

In addition to enforcement action, the league also identifies and blocks access to websites offering illegal streams.

“This is the first of multiple cases to emerge from those raids and is the latest significant milestone in our work to combat piracy in partnership with local enforcement authorities,” said Mr Plumb.

“We will continue to take action against piracy and work to raise awareness among fans of the risks associated with using illegal services – the safest and best way for fans in Singapore to watch Premier League action is via authorised broadcast partner channels.”