Couple to Front Court Over Alleged Sextortion Case

A couple is expected to appear in the Suva Magistrates Court today, charged in connection with an alleged sextortion case involving threats and extortion of over $1,800.

According to police, the matter was initially reported to the Online Safety Commission on 30 June by the victim, who claimed the couple had threatened to release an explicit video unless he paid them money to cover their rent.

It is alleged that after the victim sent the requested amount with the understanding that the video would be deleted, the couple continued to demand more money while repeatedly threatening to release the footage.

The Online Safety Commission’s Abuse Team, in collaboration with their Police Liaison Officer, managed to track down the accused pair, who were later handed over to Totogo Police for formal investigation.

The couple has been charged with:

One count of Traffic Obscene Publication under Section 377 (1)(a) of the Crimes Act 2009;

One count of Posting an Intimate Visual Recording under Section 25 of the Online Safety Act 2018; and

One count of Computer-related Extortion and Fraud under Section 10 of the Cybercrime Act 2021.

The alleged offences involved mobile money transactions and in-person cash payments totaling $1,841.