PARAMARIBO--A man who fell victim to a tasteless prank played by a friend last week, received support from police on Thursday. “We urge people to stop the habit of blemishing innocent people’s good names. Anyone who is found guilty of this is in violation of article 321 of the penal code,” police said in a release.
The man posted a passionate plea on Facebook on Sunday, in response to a post last week that portrayed him as a dangerous robber, listing all sorts of criminal acts that he would have committed. The post that carried his photo with the caption “ROBBER” atop in big bold letters, was quickly picked up and shared amongst concerned citizens who thought it good citizenry to warn each other of another danger to society. It turned out to be a prank.
“I am the man in the picture, but I assure you that I am no criminal. I am a hardworking man, a civil servant. I have my family and my wife is pregnant with another child. I do not do these things that are said there. This post was placed on Facebook by ‘a friend’ and it is really troubling me. It actually put me in danger. I really do not know why this guy thought that this would be funny. Now he is trying to reach me to say that he is sorry, but the wrong has already been done,” he said.
Looking sternly into the camera, he said he has been to the police to clarify things, but to no avail. “It’s like the police think this is a joke. I have people think I am a robber and I have family and friends in Suriname and the Netherlands, who know that I am not like this, calling me to ask what’s up. I have no idea what else to do to clear my name, but I will not leave it like this,” he said.
It has now turned out that police did take him seriously.
“Due to these types of tasteless jokes, people are characterised as criminals here and abroad. The danger is that this person who is unjustly portrayed as a criminal can be attacked by people who think that they have really caught a criminal – even if he did not give them reason to attack him. The worst case can be that this person can also be shot,” police warned.
The release urged people not to take any posts as credible. “Arrest warrants with photos, accompanied by complete description and rap sheet of suspects are issued by police only, and only after receiving instructions from the Prosecutor General,” it stressed.
It also warned that anyone besmirching the names of innocent people can be found guilty of defamation and slander. “Knowingly committing this crime is punishable with up to three years in jail and a monetary fine. In addition the Civil Code allows the person who is duped to demand rectification of their honour and good name, as well as damages,” it said.
Facebook seems to have meanwhile removed the prank from its site. The passionate video plea from the duped man to clear his name remains.
