Burgled Briton ‘Terrified’ As Gay Sex Clips Published In Ugandan Newspaper
A gay Briton says he’s ‘scared out of his mind’ after his laptop was stolen by burglars and images found on it – showing him having sex with a man – were published in a newspaper.
Bernard Randall faces two years in prison in Uganda – where homosexual acts are illegal – and fears he will be beaten up by bigots.
He said the burglars had tried to blackmail him and passed the video images to the tabloid when he refused to pay.
The 65-year-old, who says the footage shows him having sex with his ex-boyfriend in Morocco, has been charged with ‘trafficking obscene material’.
He believes the burglars targeted him because they knew he was gay and says the case against him is ‘nonsensical’.
‘The publication of the pictures was as a consequence of the theft of my laptop,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t publishing them. They were very private videos of my private life that got stolen.’
The former banking industry computer analyst – who lived in Faversham, Kent, before travelling abroad – has pleaded not guilty.
He will answer bail on Monday with his friend, Ugandan Albert Cheptoyek, 30, who faces a more serious charge of gross indecency. Supporters including Stephen Fry are campaigning on his behalf.
Fry tweeted: ‘We want our friend home. Please help to stop his persecution.’
Randall was arrested at dawn and endured ‘humiliating’ examinations during three days in the cells.
‘There were 18 other criminals in there. They had seen the newspaper in the cell so they all were aware of the situation,’ he said.
Uganda MPs propose to increase the penalty for gay acts to life in jail
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