- SVG POLICE LAUNCH INVESTIGATION INTO SEXUALLY EXPLICIT VIDEO
The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) has launched an investigation into a video that is being circulated on social media depicting a young female (pre-teen or early-teen) being gang raped.
The RSVGPF wishes to advise the general public that it is a prosecutable offence to circulate or share videos of this nature on social media. The perpetrator(s) can be charged with multiple offences under the Cybercrime Act of 2016 as follows:
Child Pornography (Section 14)– A person who commits a crime under this section is liable:-
On summary conviction to a fine of three hundred thousand dollars or seven years imprisonment or to both; or
On conviction on indictment to a fine of seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for twenty years or to both.
Sexual Harassment by Electronic Communication(Section 16) – A person who commits an offence under this section is liable:-
On summary conviction to a fine of one hundred thousand dollars or to imprisonment for two years or to both; or
On conviction on indictment to a fine of two hundred thousand dollars or to imprisonment for five years or to both.
In addition, circulating such videos re-victimizes and re-traumatizes the victim. Accordingly, the RSVGPF calls on the culprit(s) circulating this video to stop immediately or face prosecution.
The RSVGPF encourages anyone with information that can assist with this and other investigations to contact any police officer they are comfortable speaking with, or the Officer in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at 1-784- 457-1211 ext. 4837, 4856 or 4859; the Major Crime Unit at 1-784-457-1211 ext. 4876 or call the police emergency numbers at 911 or 999.
All information received would be treated confidentially. The investigation into this matter is ongoing.
