Well, you get a "500 Server Error" from your httpd, but perl certainly gives you a more helpfull message, which can be found in the error-log of your server. I can imagine that you have a nasty ISP that does not give your error-log access: use the module CGI::Carp and import 'fatalsToBrowser', that will catch all occuring errors and spit them to your browser.

Also note that the current working directory is not guaranteed to be the directory your script is in (although afaik the Apache ensures it), at least no CGI spec says so. Try adding the following BEGIN-Block:

BEGIN {
   use CGI::Carp 'fatalsToBrowser';
   require FindBin;
   chdir $FindBin::Bin;
}
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