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The order was granted in February 1996 in a state court in San Jose, California, after a civil harassment claim from an exgirlfriend who details multiple incidents from June 1995 to January 1996 in which she said Koum verbally and physically threatened her, according to court documents. The incidents included changing her school records and preventing her from attending college classes.
"I feel I was irrational and behaved badly after we broke up," Koum said in a statement today. "I am ashamed of the way I acted, and ashamed that my behaviour forced her to take legal action. I am sorry for what I did."
Koum joined the board of Facebook earlier this month after the Menlo Park, California-based social network closed its acquisition of WhatsApp. The 38-year-old has a net worth of $7.4 billion. He’s the third-largest individual shareholder of Facebook behind co-founders Mark Zuckerberg and Dustin Moskovitz.
"Jan has written a thoughtful and honest response that we believe demonstrates the sincerity of his remorse over what happened nearly two decades ago," said a Facebook spokesman.
The woman couldn’t be reached for comment and her mother, when reached by phone and in person, declined to comment.
Under California law, civil harassment restraining orders are granted if someone wants protection from a person who they believe to be a threat for violence, stalking or serious harassment. A judge decides whether a person needs protection after evidence is presented and determines the length of the order.
Koum said that what happened 18 years ago doesn’t reflect who he is today.
"Over the years, I have thought a lot about that difficult period of my life," he said. "I have many regrets and things I wish I could go back and change, but I have also worked hard and tried to improve myself.".
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