Man jailed for threatening to post ex-girlfriend’s nude videos online in dispute over debt

SINGAPORE — When his ex-girlfriend asked him to repay some money she had lent him, a man sent her intimate photos and videos that he had secretly taken of her, saying that it was “his business” whether he wanted to return her the cash.

On Tuesday (June 7), the 23-year-old Malaysian was jailed for 12 weeks. He pleaded guilty to the offence of threatening to distribute intimate images and recordings that he had taken of the victim without her consent.

He cannot be named due to a court order to protect the identity of his 21-year-old ex-girlfriend, who is also Malaysian.

The court heard that they dated for three years until January last year. Over the course of their relationship, she lent him money for him to repay his debts.

She continued doing this even after they broke up but he did not pay her back.

In July last year, they discussed a repayment plan and he agreed to make monthly payments. She said that he owed her S$12,757 as of December last year.

On Dec 10, she asked him about repayment for that month when he had not done so. They then began arguing over the WeChat messaging application and he said that he would stop repaying her.

He also said that he would post things about her online should she do the same about him.

She had previously posted an Instagram Story, which automatically disappears after 24 hours, about him owing her money and tagged his Instagram username. This was after he had ignored her messages.

He then sent her seven photos, which showed her changing into a long-sleeved shirt, and two video recordings of her completely nude in the shower. Her face could be clearly seen in some of the photos and videos.

He had taken the videos when they were still dating by entering the bathroom while she was showering and waving his mobile phone around. She had told him not to take any videos.

After he sent her the obscene material, he repeated that he would not pay her back and threatened to upload the material if she made any online posts about him.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Emily Zhao told the court: "He also told the victim that she had willingly lent him money, and whether he wanted to return the money was his business. He told her not to bother him just because he owed her money.”

The man deleted the offending material a few days later without uploading anything. The victim then made a police report at Clementi Neighbourhood Police Centre.

He was arrested on May 26 this year. When the police examined his electronic devices, they found one of the semi-nude images on his mobile phone.

He could have been jailed for up to five years, fined, caned, or received any combination of the three punishments for his offence.