Jamaican TikToker and former journalist Milton Wray, popularly known online as “119”, was arrested on Tuesday. He is facing a charge of malicious communication under the Cybercrimes Act. The charge stems from two social media posts the controversial TikToker allegedly made that targeted a woman from St Catherine.
Following the post, the female filed a complaint with the Spanish Town Criminal Investigative Branch (CIB), prompting an investigation that led to his arrest. TikToker 119 has since been released on bond after being granted a station bail of $400,000. He is scheduled to appear before the St Catherine Parish Court on May 12.
Despite the legal troubles, the outspoken content creator is maintaining his innocence and says he plans to challenge the case on constitutional grounds. Wray claims that despite asking the police, he was not informed which part of his content constituted a breach of the law.
“I begged them to tell me what words in my post amounted to ‘malicious communication,” Wray told Jamaica Star, adding that the officer only told him he would be made aware of the breach in court.
Wray frequently uses his platform to speak out on social and controversial issues. He often garners criticism for his commentary. In this situation, he views the charge as a direct attack on his freedom of expression.
“I believe this is a new low for the police, who are seeking to infringe on the rights of regular Jamaicans by misinterpreting the law in order to muzzle them,” he argued. He says he is “seeking a stay on the matter pending a constitutional court.”
According to Jamaica Star, Jamaica’s Cybercrimes Act details under Section 9 that individuals can face charges for sending or publishing material through a computer that is deemed threatening, obscene, menacing, or harassing. Convictions can result in heavy fines or up to 20 years in prison.
Wray strongly contends that the law is being misused and calls the charge “ridiculous”. He expressed that his content did neither threaten nor harass anyone. He also said he did not post anything obscene. He believes that the state is attempting to suppress his “constitutional rights to freedom of speech”.