BLOGGER ELIAS MUSYANI SENTENCED TO 6 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR ONLINE HARASSMENT
By Nelson Zulu
Lusaka Magistrate Mutinta Mwenya has convicted and sentenced Social Media Blogger Elias Musyani after finding him guilty of two counts of harassment utilizing means of electronic communication, contrary to section 69 of the cyber security and cyber-crimes act number 2 of 2021.
Magistrate Mwenya fined Musyani K70,000 and sentenced him to 6 months in prison on two counts for cyber harassment against Kidist Kifle, wife of Musician Elton Mulenga popularly known as Yo Maps.
The court established that on April 8, 2024, Musyani using a computer system, intentionally initiated an electronic communication on his Facebook page allegedly intended to coerce, intimidate, harass or cause emotional distress to Ms. Kifle.
The Magistrate Court further established that Musyani openly insulted the couple showing that he knew what he was doing and his intentions were done for clout.
In mitigation, Musyani pleaded with the court to exercise leniency because he is a student and assured to mend his ways to be a good youth having learnt a lesson during trial.
But in passing the sentence, Magistrate Mwenya handed the K70,000 fine which should be paid within one week and 6 months sentence with hard labour, noting that cybercrime is on the rise in the country through incidents of assaults being committed online.
PHOENIX NEWS