Two individuals arrested for blackmail involving explicit images

Two individuals have been arrested for blackmailing persons with the threat of releasing explicit photos and footage.

Police said that two individuals have been arrested for threatening a person with a knife and extorting money. The incident was reported to Police on August 31. 

Police said that the victim had been taken to an apartment in Hulhumale' Phase 1 after threatening to release explicit images of them. The threats had been made through Facebook Messenger. 

They were then threatened with a knife, and made to give up money from their bank account. The perpetrators also stripped the victim, and took videos, demanding more money from them. 

The two arrested in relation to the case are Mohamed Sameer, Seereen Manzil, HA. Filladhoo, and Ali Haisal, Araairu, Thun'di, L. Gan. 

The two were arrested in an operation carried out last Thursday, Police said. The two were arrested from an apartment in Hulhumale' Phase 1. 

Through search of the apartment, Police found three mobile phones, three watches, a drone, a fishing rod, two pairs of sunglasses, a silver chain and silver ring, believed to have been stolen. Police also said that six knives had been found in the apartment. 

When presented in court for their remand hearing, Haisal has been placed in remand in custody for four days, and Sameer for 15 days. 

Police said that there are two additional cases where the two are accused of threatening individuals through social media, claiming to have explicit images of them and demanding money. 

Police have appealed to any additional persons victimized by the two to report the incidents.