Man jailed for blackmailing friend with compromising video

A man has been sentenced to jail for blackmailing a friend with compromising footage and extorting a significant sum of money.

The case involves an individual from a northern Maldivian island who used a nude video of a close male friend, who worked at the same resort, to extort a large amount of money.

The prosecution filed two charges against the man: possession of pornographic content and unauthorized possession of another person's property.

The charge of pornography possession arose in May 2023, following allegations that he used a screen recording of a video call to blackmail his friend. During the seizure of his mobile phone in connection with the alleged blackmail, compromising videos were discovered.

The charge of unauthorized possession of another person's property was filed after he repeatedly extorted MVR 13,500 from his friend, threatening to leak the compromising videos. The blackmailer instructed his victim to deposit the money into his wife’s account.

The defendant pleaded guilty to both charges, leading to an expedited trial.

He was convicted of unauthorized possession of another person's property and initially sentenced to nine months and 18 days in jail. However, this sentence was commuted to five months and six days of house arrest, a fine of MVR 24,000, and 480 hours of community service.

Additionally, the man was convicted of possession of pornography and sentenced to nine days in jail. This sentence was also commuted by the court to 18 days of house arrest.