India-born student Dharun Ravi, convicted of spying on his gay roommate who later committed suicide, has publicly apologised for the first time for his “insensitive and immature” actions, saying he will surrender this week to begin his month-long jail term.
Ravi said he regretted his “stupid and childish” choices when he set up a webcam to view the sexual encounter of his roommate Tyler Clementi with another man on two occasions in September 2010 but said he did not act out of hatred.
“I accept responsibility for and regret my thoughtless, insensitive, immature, stupid and childish choices... My behaviour and actions, which at no time were motivated by hate, bigotry, prejudice or desire to hurt, humiliate or embarrass anyone, were nonetheless the wrong choices and decisions.
“I apologise to everyone affected by those choices,” 20-year-old Ravi said in a statement released by his lawyer Steven Altman on Tuesday.
The apology by Ravi is the first time the former Rutgers University student has publicly said sorry for his actions.
Ravi had come under sharp criticism for not apologising during his trial for spying on Clementi and then inviting his other friends to view the sexual encounter through a webcam.
Judge Glenn Berman of the New Brunswick court, who had sentenced him, had admonished Ravi for not showing any remorse for his “colossal insensitivity”.
During sentencing, judge Berman had said, “I heard this jury say, ‘guilty’ 288 times — 24 questions, 12 jurors. That’s the multiplication. I haven’t heard you apologise once.”
Clementi’s parents too had said expressed sadness that Ravi did not seem apologetic for his actions that led their son to commit suicide.
Dharun Ravi (advised by his parents and attorneys) did not take a plea deal offered to them, did not display remorse during or after the trial that could have led to an even lighter sentence. I wonder why? It has puzzled me to no end. I buy his story that he was not a bigot or that this was not a hate crime. But then, it had terrible consequences for another person. Why not acknowledge that his thoughtless behavior fell short of what is needed in a modern society? And then simply say that he had done it out of ignorance and insensitivity. Which indeed seems to be the case with this much delayed regret. But am I not glad that he got a light sentence for now he has a chance for picking himself up once again and find redemption.
Its a shame to see an Indian doing this act and being not remorseful. What's more shocking is the attitude of this young person, who has put Indian community in a black spot. I wish he should be imprisoned for life in prison.
My heartfelt condolences goes to Clementi's parents. Let the criminal Ravi be portrayed as not an Indian here please. There have been too many Indians now in USA who have become infamous for crimes and monetary frauds.
As a fellow resident of Plainsboro i am relieved that he got only 30 days jail instead of 10 years.It was shame that drove the other guy to commit suicide.Then why do that when another person is in the same room.What Ravi did is violation of privacy but what privacy we can expect in a double room.
Dharun might think he got away with a light sentence, but he will be
spending 30 days in Jail with real criminals. Incarceration will
forever follow him in his history and background checks. People just
don't have any common sense law in India. When in a accident causing a
vehicle damage by the other party, the police said it will only cost
Rs 1000.00 implying my Rs. 1000.00 is so easy to come by. People used
to say "This is not America, here in India we don't any laws or rules
and we are perfectly ok with paying a demand of a bribe by Govt
employee". Hopefully this sends a good message that anybody "MYOB"
meaning Mind Your own business and you can lead your life peacefully
in other countries. BTW Good luck with the Jan Lok Pal!
Too little, too late - that is the way I would put it. I have followed
the case, & the case did make us Indians here in the US look bad. As
for Ravi, he was proud, unwilling to apologize. Doing that would not
have mitigated the seriousness of the offense, but at least portrayed
him as someone who was seriously sorry for what he did.
As for the offense, it was committed out of sheer bigotry, and dislike
for Tyler Clementi who was gay. Someone who goes to Rutgers does not
do something this “stupid and childish” as Ravi put it. The sad part
was that Ravi got away with a light sentence of 30 days, while his
actions led to someone taking his own life. The sentence itself should
send a clear message that this kind of bigotry is not tolerated in
society here.
"Better late than never".It is an eye opener for Desi boys and Desi parents.
Going easy with western world law will end up like Dharun Ravi case. Lack of parenting is the issue here. US is not India , where you can buy judge. Dharun Ravi case is an example for Indians living abroad. Even though Dharun doesn't hatred his roommate , filming or webcam his privacy is against the law.Then discussing the same in digital media is another big crime.
He could have apologised in the first instance and things would have a different outcom.But the defensive and denial has had an impact now.
It is no surprise that he had not apologized. Youth of today's genre feel they dont owe They only know about their rights and entitlements and how to enjoy life. Even now I dont think the aplology is genuine. It must have been prompted by lawyers, who know what is right to say to get a commutaion in sentence period etc.
it appears his parents did not play proper role asking their son to say sorry during trail it self
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