The Territorial Team of the Judicial Police (ETPJ) of the Civil Guard of Tías investigated on May 9 a woman of Spanish nationality and resident of the municipality of Tías, for allegedly stalking and coercing her ex-partner on the Internet.
The investigation began on April 9, when the victim of the events informed the agents that someone was dedicated to damaging his image on social networks, being also harassed by telephone with numerous calls from a hidden number and with massive messages through the whatsapp application, "in an insistent and repeated manner".
Impersonating the victim, the alleged perpetrator stole photos and data from his profile and created new ones, impersonating his identity and adding his friends and acquaintances with the alleged intention of damaging his image and honor, "since she distributed intimate photographs from when they were a couple and made derogatory comments and insults to family and friends of the victim", according to the Benemerita.
From the information provided by the victim, the Civil Guard suspected from the beginning a woman with whom he had a sentimental relationship months before, finally managing to gather enough evidence to determine the alleged authorship of the detainee with these facts, who was investigated for a crime of coercion, in its modality of stalking, adding also a crime against honor, in this case of insults against a public official, given the condition of the victim.
Penalties from three months to two years in prison
From the Civil Guard they explain that, as a result of the new Penal Code of 2015, article 172 ter was included, which defines harassment or continuous stalking as a crime, defining it as an insistent, continuous and persistent harassment of one person over another, so that it seriously alters the development of their daily life.
This harassment usually translates into spying, following in the street, calling constantly, sending gifts, sending continuous letters or messages, writing their name in public places and even, in extreme cases, threatening to commit violent acts against the victim or their family or friends. The crime of stalking, according to the Benemérita, can carry prison sentences of three months to two years, or a fine of six to twenty-four months,
For its part, insults are defined in article 208, which defines the insult to a public official in the exercise of their functions as a public crime, since he also received insults on Facebook pages related to his work environment, where intimate videos and photos were also published without the consent of the injured party. The investigated has been placed at the disposal of the corresponding Court, on guard duty, of Arrecife.
