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Sliema’s former deputy mayor was yesterday acquitted of sending e-mails containing compromising photos of his ex-boyfriend.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli said that although she could conclude the defendant had sent the circulated images, the evidence was not sufficient in the eyes of the law to convict Cyrus Engerer.

Mr Engerer, who chairs the consultative council set up to address LGBT issues, was charged with misusing a computer, illegally copying data and exposing it, circulating pornographic images and defaming his former boyfriend, who cannot be named by court order. The case came to light after the man’s work colleagues received two e-mails with pictures showing him in compromising positions with other men.

The victim said he had suspected Mr Engerer had lifted the photos from his computer because they had lived together and, when they split up, he had given his house key to Mr Engerer to collect his belongings.

He said he had terminated their relationship on Christmas Day in 2009 and the e-mails were sent four days later from qwertymalta@hotmail.com.

The police established the e-mail account was accessed nine times between December 29, 2009, and January 8, 2010: from the home of Mr Engerer’s mother; once from a Gasan Mamo Insurance office in Rabat; and on another occasion from Brussels. It was also accessed from an iPhone.

Rita Alamango, manager at the Gasan Mamo Rabat office, said that Mr Engerer was a friend who would often meet her for lunch.

Sometimes he would arrive early and, while waiting for her, he would use the second computer they had in the office.

Magistrate Demicoli said there was no evidence to suggest Mr Engerer had created the e-mail account.

There was also the possibility that the other people featured in the photos could have had access to them.

In 2011, Mr Engerer resigned from the Nationalist Party and switched to Labour. Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri appeared for Mr Engerer.