KARACHI: A judicial magistrate on Friday sentenced a man to total nine years in prison for sharing obscene videos of a TikToker on WhatsApp.

Judicial Magistrate (East) Yusra Ashfaq found accused Lutuf Ali guilty of committing offences against the complainant’s dignity and modesty as well as cyberstalking under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016.

The court observed that the evidence suggested that the accused recorded the video to put pressure on the complainant and he distributed it to others and used it as a mean of harassment and intimidation.

“The digital trail, including the transmission of these materials via WhatsApp, indicates that the accused actions were deliberate and aimed at manipulating or possibly extorting the complainant, highlighting a clear intent to harm and degrade her,” the court noted in its detailed verdict.

“The prosecution has demonstrated that the accused tarnished the dignity of the complainant and her family, violated the complainant’s modesty, created and distributed obscene videos without her consent, and displayed them publicly,” the judge remarked.

According to the prosecutor of the Federal Investigation Agency, the complainant, an actor and TikTok star, alleged that after collaborating with the accused on various projects, she was invited to work in a telefilm. The victim had gone to Larkana with her mother for a shoot, where the accused drugged them and recorded obscene videos. Later, she discovered obscene material of herself on the accused’s mobile phone, which was also shared with her uncle.

In her testimony, the complainant informed the court that on June 11, 2021, she arrived in Larkana early in the morning. After having breakfast, she, along with her mother and the accused, went to Mohenjo Daro to shoot a song until the evening. The accused arranged a hotel for their stay. He offered them juice that rendered both of them unconscious.

During the trial, the FIA prosecutor argued that there were no inconsistencies in the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses.

He further submitted that the forensic report corroborated the complainant’s account as well as the statements of the witnesses.

On the other hand, the defence counsel argued that the complainant had allegedly failed to return the borrowed money and falsely implicated his client in the case.

The defence also claimed that the complainant had snatched his client’s mobile phone, which led the accused to get the phone blocked through the Citizen-Police Liaison Committee.

However, the court rejected the defence’s plea, noting that the accused did not raise that claim during his statement or provide any evidence to support it.

A case was registered at the FIA Cyber Crime Wing under sections 20 (dignity of natural persons), 21 (modesty of natural persons or minor), 24 (cyber stalking) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2024