Dharun Ravi gets 30-day jail term for webcam spying

[1]

Indian American student Dharun Ravi was on Monday sentenced to 30 days in jail by a New Jersey judge on hate crime charges for using a webcam to spy on a homosexual roommate who later committed suicide.

Judge Glenn Berman pronounced the sentence against the 20-year-old former Rutgers University student for bias intimidation and invasion of privacy charges for the 2010 episode involving his roommate Tyler Clementi.

Ravi had faced a maximum of 10 years behind bars for his conviction. Berman called Ravi's behavior ‘cold, calculated and methodically conceived’.

He said he did not believe Ravi hated roommate Tyler Clementi, but believed he acted ‘out of colossal insensitivity’. "I haven't heard you apologise once," Berman told Ravi, who made no statement.

Ravi will begin his sentence on May 31. He will also serve three years probation, ABC News reported.

Ravi was not charged with causing Clementi's death. He also faced possible deportation, but the judge said he would not recommend so.

Ravi was convicted in March of 15 charges including invasion of privacy, bias intimidation and evidence tampering for spying on his roommate, Tyler Clementi, with a webcam while he was with another man.

Days later, Clementi jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge.

Earlier, the judge denied the defence's motion for acquittal and a new trial on Monday. Ravi's mother broke down sobbing after she pleaded for leniency in her son's sentencing.