Call Center Agent Fined for Cyberbullying Over Facebook Post

A call center sales agent found herself in hot water after a Facebook post landed her in court under Belize’s Cyber Crime Act. The woman, who used the alias “Erika Martinez” online, pleaded guilty to using a computer system to spread a false statement meant to shame and embarrass another person. The post, which accused a forty-one-year-old bank employee of inappropriate behavior toward a fifteen-year-old girl, was traced back to the agent—identified in court as Twist. The man, who is out on bail for a separate charge of common assault involving the same minor, reported the post to police, saying it damaged his reputation and caused him public embarrassment. In court, Twist was emotional and remorseful. She told Magistrate Black that she acted out of anger after learning about the alleged incident involving her relative. She admitted she didn’t know the post was illegal and said she took it down after just three hours. Magistrate Black handed down a non-custodial sentence, fining Twist four hundred dollars, plus court costs, with a deadline of June thirtieth to pay. If she fails to do so, she faces four months in prison. The magistrate noted her early guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, and genuine remorse as factors in the sentencing.