Indian-origin US student linked to suicide case withdraws from New Jersey college

NEW YORK - A 18-year-old Indian origin American student has dropped out of a New Jersey college after being accused of driving another student to suicide by broadcasting his same-sex encounter on the Internet.

Dharun Ravi, along with another student Molly Wei, have been charged with invasion of privacy in connection with the death of 18-year-old Tyler Clementi.

“They were given the option of withdrawing and they can reapply. Realistically, they couldn’t go back no matter what. He definitely plans to go somewhere else,” CBS News quoted Ravi’s attorney Steven Altman, as saying.

Altman also said that Ravi, who was Clementi’s roommate, and Wei would not face university disciplinary hearings.

Wei’s attorney, Rubin Sinins, said that his client has also withdrawn from the college due to safety fears.

The duo allegedly used a webcam to secretly record Clementi having sex with a man on September 19 and a second encounter on September 21.

After his sex life was aired live on the web, Clementi jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge on September 22.

Under New Jersey’s privacy law it is a crime to transmit or even view images that depict nudity or sexual contact with an individual without that person’s consent.

Collecting or viewing sexual images without consent is a fourth-degree crime, while transmitting them is a third-degree crime with a maximum prison sentence of five years.

Both Ravi and Wei could face up to five years in prison if convicted. Prosecutors are considering hate crime charges. (ANI)