A 56-year-old unemployed Hong Kong male resident surnamed Lam was arrested last week for blackmailing his girlfriend with nude photos and videos, as well as misusing her credit card, causing the victim a total loss of about 142,000 patacas, a spokesperson for the Judiciary Police (PJ) said during a press conference on Friday.
According to the spokesperson, police received a report early this month from a non-local middle-aged woman stating that between January and July this year, her boyfriend had blackmailed her four times by threatening to release nude photos and videos in exchange for money.
The spokesperson did not disclose the victim’s nationality or origin.
Fearing that the man would leak her nude photos and videos, the spokesperson said, the woman paid him HK$81,830 through bank transfers and by cash.
In addition, according to the spokesperson, the victim also told police that in March, Lam used her phone without her consent to make online purchases with her linked credit card, buying several electronic products from a shop in the central district, totalling 57,896 patacas.
After receiving the woman’s report, the Judiciary Police launched an investigation, soon identifying the suspect, and arrested him on Wednesday last week at the Qingmao pedestrian checkpoint when he was entering the city from Zhuhai.
Under questioning, Lam refused to cooperate, but according to the findings of their investigation, the police confirmed his involvement in the crimes, the spokesperson said.
According to the spokesperson, the police are still tracing the whereabouts of the electronic products and the ill-gotten money.
The spokesperson said that Lam has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) for further investigation, facing charges of extortion, misuse of a credit card, illegal recording, and invasion of privacy.
