Headache to post bail as photographer slapped with Private Criminal Charges

In this Composite Photo, Criminally Charged Diliza David is seen worried as his mother holds her head in distress after the court placed David on $200,000 bail

22-Year-Old Diliza David of Lot 11 Turkeyen, Grater Georgetown was on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, slapped with Private Criminal Charges under the Cybercrime Offences Act 2018. Journalist Leroy Smith filed the charges through his Attorney Eusi Anderson. The matter was called in Court 1 before the Chief Magistrate.

Diliza David was charged with cloning the mobile number of Leroy Smith and falsely impersonated him by calling several members of the public. Further, David was also charged under the said Act for sending a voice note accusing Smith of engaging in physical sexual assault by touching him above his knees, knowing that to be false.

In Court, Smith’s lawyer did not object to bail but asked it be granted with conditions. Bail was eventually set to $100,000 for each offense,  bringing the total to $200,000. The amount eventually proved to be a tall order for David and his family.

When the bail was not paid in time, David was sent to the prisoners’ holding cell in the court where he remained for close to four hours as his mother and sister began walking around the courtyard in anxiety calling several persons on the phone trying to secure bail.

Diliza David was hired as a freelance photographer by Smith’s company in 2023. However, after several warnings from the office supervisor and his immediate supervisor about the diminishing quality of his work along with his work ethics, David was fired when no improvement was seen.

It was after he was fired and money that he borrowed from the company through advances was deducted from his final pay, he went into a Work WhatsApp Group and accused smith of touching him. It was also after that, that he, Diliza David, began cloning the telephone number of Leroy Smith and began calling members of the public.