Wife freed of cybercrime after mistress opts for mediation
KINGSTON, Jamaica – A woman was freed of a cybercrime in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday after the complainant, her husband’s mistress, decided not to pursue a case against her.
It was revealed in court that the accused, a Jamaican who now resides in the United States, found a sexually explicit photograph of the complainant in her husband’s phone in April 2017, an argument ensued between the couple, and the man was thrown out of the house they shared.
However the issue did not end there. It was disclosed that a feud was ignited between the two women, and it was alleged that the accused logged into her husband’s Facebook account and sent the picture to two of the complainant’s friends with a message threatening to make the picture viral if the complainant did not stop sending pictures of herself to the husband.
Court documents stated that after the complainant confronted the husband, he denied sending any such message through the social media platform.
“Sometime later the complainant started receiving numerous Whatsapp messages and voice-notes from a particular number. It is alleged that in one of the voice-notes, the accused confessed to sending out the pictures from [the husband’s] Facebook account. Hence, the complainant made a report to the police,” the court was told by the prosecution, who confirmed that the number belongs to the one the accused has listed on file.
It was also disclosed in court that the police’s cybercrime department was in possession of a voice-note in which the accused admitted to sending the photograph by way of her husband’s social media account.
The wife was later charged with use of a computer for malicious communication under section 9 of the Cyber Crimes Act.
However, the accused woman’s attorney said the matter arose out of a civil case back in 2017, when the complainant allegedly wore a number of the wife’s clothes which were left at the house she lived in Jamaica with her husband before migrating to the US. The wife reportedly sued the complainant because, according to her lawyer, “she didn’t want those clothing.”
The wife’s attorney said the civil case was settled and the complainant paid the stipulated amount. He also asked the judge to allow his client to travel back to the US, as she is scheduled to leave the island on Wednesday.
While the judge, Maxine Dennis-McPherson, was very clear that she is not inclined to give the accused woman permission to travel, she also asked both ladies if they wished to discuss the issues they have and come to a resolution. They both agreed.
“What I am understanding from this is that there is an underlying issue. The animosity between the two females, was that dealt with in the civil court?” Dennis-McPherson asked the attorney, who answered in the affirmative.
The accused ultimately pleaded not guilty to the charge, after the complainant decided to no longer move forward with the case following an on-the-spot mediation between the two parties.
“(Accused), you have pleaded not guilty. The complainant doesn’t wish to proceed with this case. The crown has offered no evidence against you. You are discharged, you’re free to go ma’am,” the judge advised.