Jeddah: A 32-year-old woman will receive 70 lashes and will have to pay USD 5,332 fine for defaming a Saudi man on an instant messaging application.
The woman was found guilty by a criminal court in Eastern Saudi Arabia of tarnishing the reputation of the complainant through WhatsApp, Okaz newspaper reported today.
She was fined 20,000 Saudi Riyal (USD 5,332) and handed down 70 lashes by the court for the crime she committed.
A case was filed by the complainant following an argument with the woman whose nationality was not mentioned.
The defendant admitted she had insulted the man, Gulf News said.
Under the Saudi Anti-Cyber Crime Law, a person who commits, defames or inflicts damage upon others through the use of various information technology devices "shall be subject to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year and a fine not exceeding SR 500,000 or to either punishment."
In July last year, two women in the Red Sea city of Jeddah were sentenced to 10 days in jail and 20 lashes for insulting each other using WhatsApp.