A couple has been charged with extortion after allegedly coercing over $1,800 from a victim by threatening to release an explicit video of him. The pair is set to appear in the Suva Magistrates Court today, following an investigation triggered by a report to the Online Safety Commission made on June 30, 2025.
The victim claims that the couple demanded payment to prevent the video from being published, promising to delete the footage upon receipt of the funds. Despite sending an initial payment, the couple reportedly continued to escalate their demands, ultimately extracting a total of $1,841 through mobile money transfers and in-person cash deliveries.
The abuse was addressed by the Online Safety Commission’s Abuse team in collaboration with a Police Liaison Officer, which led to the couple’s subsequent arrest by the Totogo Police. Each individual is now facing serious charges including Trafficking Obscene Publication, Posting an Intimate Visual Recording, and Computer-Related Extortion and Fraud.
This incident reflects an ongoing trend of legal action against individuals involved in similar cybercrimes, underscoring the importance of digital safety and protecting personal information from exploitation. The trend, highlighted in previous cases—such as those of individuals charged for distributing explicit content without consent—demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement to combat these violations.
It is encouraging to see authorities taking action to address these issues and raise community awareness about the severe consequences of privacy violations. As society becomes more digitally interconnected, proactive education on responsible online behavior stands as a crucial preventative measure against such criminal activities.
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