Man jailed 18 months over revenge porn

A 40-year-old man was jailed for 18 months after posting a blurred, indecent photo of his ex-girlfriend when he demanded that she returns her engagement ring within three days.

Lamin Samura Seguba, a Gambian national living in St Paul’s Bay, was accused of sharing an indecent photograph of his former girlfriend without her consent, uttering threats and insults, as well as misusing electronic equipment.

He was further charged with breaching two sets of bail conditions.

The woman filed a police report at the Gender-Based Domestic Violence Unit on March 25, 2023, alleging that she had been in a relationship for seven years, and she broke up with the accused in September 2021 when she was in Turkey for work.

The woman told the police that she worked between Malta and Turkey, and alleged that Seguba had threatened to post indecent photos of her online if she did not return the engagement ring within three days.

On March 16, 2023, a common friend informed her that Seguba had posted a blurred indecent image of her. She also sent her a screenshot of the post.

The woman also filed a second report during the proceedings, alleging that the man was texting her as soon as he was released on bail.

The court observed that from the evidence brought in court, Seguba did post an indecent photo of the woman on his Facebook profile.

The woman’s friend told the court that the post was accompanied by threats against the victim. In his statement, Seguba had also admitted that he posted an indecent photo of the victim.

The court noted that while the photo was taken by the accused when the pair were still together, the photo was shared without her consent.

The man was found guilty of revenge porn, insulting his former girlfriend, as well as misusing electronic equipment.

He was, however, acquitted of breaching his bail conditions after the prosecution did not produce any evidence to sustain the charge. The decrees by which the man was granted bail in separate proceedings were not presented in court.

The man was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment on Friday and fined €500.

A three-year restraining order was issued in favour of the woman.

He was ordered to pay €3,247.76 in court expenses.

Magistrate Leonard Caruana presided.