OTTAWA, Ont. – The owner of popular Byward Market restaurants -  Kinki and Mambo – has been sentenced to 90 days in prison and two years probation for defamatory libel.

Marisol Simoes sent “hostile” e-mails to diner, Elayna Katz, who gave one of the restaurants a bad review on a website.  She also set up a fake profile on an adult website of Katz, which included a wedding photo of her.

“It is akin to cyber-bullying”, said the judge.  She said the actions were deliberately to harm the reputation of Katz and intended to humiliate her.  

Katz said this sends the message that cyber-bullying can happen to any of us, not just teenagers.

“All I was doing was exercising my right as a customer to give my opinion”, said Katz.  “I don’t think the retaliation was merited.”

She called the actions of Simoes embarrassing.

“I happen to be in Human Resources and I do a lot of interviews”, said Katz.  “I’ve had to defend myself, my name and my reputation to strangers and potentially people we may hire.”

Katz said she is glad to put this behind her, but hopes the issue of cyber-bullying becomes more public and people tell their stories.