MONTEGO BAY, St James — Austley Scott of Norwood, St James, appeared in the parish court on Wednesday, accused of turning a private matter into a public scandal by sharing a sexual video of his former partner.

The charge stems from a dispute with the mother of his child.

The court was told that on July 30 Scott used the complainant’s phone to send the video to her cousin while she was at home.

The matter reportedly escalated when, as she attempted to report the incident at Montego Bay Police Station, Scott contacted her, warning that the video would be distributed to all his friends and family.

The video was later shared on Scott’s social media, reaching friends and relatives who then contacted the complainant, leaving her exposed and distressed.

During the hearing, the judge asked the court clerk about the position on bail.

In response, the clerk said, “The Crown is not opposed to bail; however, the Crown is seeking that a condition of the bail will be that the restraining order that the complainant has against him will be enforced as he refuses to leave her alone.”

Bail was granted in the sum of $500,000 with up to three sureties.

Conditions include reporting to a designated police station on specified days and a strict prohibition against contacting the complainant.

The judge also set a case management hearing for October 8.

In Jamaica, malicious communication is addressed under Section 9 of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015. This section criminalises the use of a computer to send data that is threatening, menacing, or obscene, with the intent to cause distress, alarm, or harm to another person.

Penalties can include fines, imprisonment, or both, with the specific punishment depending on the severity and nature of the offence, as well as whether it’s a first or subsequent offence.