A 25-year-old man in Singapore has been sentenced to five months in jail and fined $2,000 (roughly RM9479) for threatening his on-and-off girlfriend with the use of black magic and the distribution of her nude images. The victim's identity remains protected due to a court-ordered gag order.

The man pleaded guilty to two counts of threatening to distribute nude images and one count of harassment. 

The court learned that the man and the 35-year-old victim had an on-and-off romantic relationship since 2018, during which they exchanged intimate photos and videos. Trouble began on February 27, 2022, when the man accused the victim of wanting to bring other men home, using derogatory language and threats involving black magic. The victim filed a police report, citing harassment on WhatsApp.

After their breakup in April 2022, the situation escalated when the man sent her a nude photo, threatening to upload it to Facebook, blaming her for moving on with a new partner. The victim filed another police report.

A few months later, on July 19, he sent intimate images of the victim, including nude and underwear photos, threatening to display them as his WhatsApp profile picture if she ignored him. The victim, once again, reported the harassment to the police.

During the court proceedings, the man, who was not represented, arrived late, explaining that he needed to care for his pregnant wife experiencing morning sickness, citing stress and personal loss, as his mother had recently passed away.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Chong Yong highlighted a pattern of abusive behavior, noting that the man had previously been jailed in 2021 for similar offenses involving the same woman, serving a 10-month sentence.

In his defense, the man expressed remorse, stating that he had learned from his mistakes and wished to focus on his future, especially as he had recently gotten married in April. He requested leniency, citing his responsibilities to his wife and family.

Source: The Straits Times