On Tuesday July 25, 2023 a case against Joseph Rankin of causing cyber humiliation and embarrassment of the Home Affairs Ministry Permanent Secretary was dismissed by Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer, according to a press release from Dexter Todd and Associates Law Firm.
The release said that Rankin was charged in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court with an offence under section 19 (2) (a) of the Cybercrime Act 2018 which alleged that on March 19, 2023 he posted a status on his WhatsApp account that caused humiliation and embarrassment to Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry.
According to the statements disclosed in the matter, someone allegedly saw the WhatsApp status, took a screenshot of it and sent it to the Permanent Secretary. This caused the Permanent Secretary to make a report against Rankin to the Guyana Police Force and he was subsequently arrested and charged under the Cybercrime Act.
