Jewel Manalad leaves court following his sentencing hearing on Thursday, Jan 2 in Nanaimo (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

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NANAIMO — A new arrival to Canada faces the threat of deportation following an alarming breach of trust at a Qualicum Beach hotel.

Jewel Nicole Manalad, 29, received a conditional discharge and 18 months probation for pointing a distinctive green iPhone at a woman while she showered after using a hotel pool on May 6 2023.

She was nude at the time, according to Crown counsel’s Leanne Mascolo, who outlined the facts of the case during a sentencing hearing in provincial court in Nanaimo on Thursday, Jan. 2.

Manalad entered the women’s washroom and positioned his phone downward from an opening above the shower stall.

The attempted act of voyeurism resulted in Manalad’s firing on the the spot when the victim complained to hotel staff.

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Manalad was later arrested and confessed to police, the hearing was told.

The offender, a Parksville resident who arrived in Canada from the Philippines in 2022, had no prior criminal record, court was told.

A pre-sentence report and psychiatric assessment was ordered for Manalad after he pleaded guilty to the offence in October.

The reports demonstrated embarrassment and remorse, while motives for the offence remain somewhat unclear.

Court was told Manalad was experiencing stress and a lack of sleep at the time due to his father’s health issues.

An indication of sexual urges was demonstrated by Manalad, whose wife remains supportive despite the transgression.

Manalad was determined to be a low risk to re-offend, according to the recent assessment, which noted he has no substance abuse or mental health issues.

“He’s embarrassed and ashamed,” defence attorney Octavio Zertuche told the sentencing hearing.

Despite Manalad escaping a criminal conviction if he abides by his probation conditions, deportation is a risk, Zertuche said.

Manalad has permanent residency status and is actively attempting to secure his citizenship, Zertuche told the court.

Judge Chris Churchill accepted the joint sentence recommendation for Manalad, who declined to address the court or comment to NanaimoNewsNOW.

Forty hours of community work service and counselling provisions are built into Manalad’s probation terms.

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