Jobless woman charged with blackmailing Gulf national

Ehab Atta, Staff Reporter

The Dubai Criminal Court on Monday began trial of an Arab unemployed woman, 22, on charges of blackmailing a Gulf citizen by threatening him that she would post their indecent photos on a social media programme if he did not pay her 200,000 Bahraini dinars (Dhs2 million).

According to the official records, the victim got to know the defendant through social media apps, adding that she was living alone in the UAE but was on a visit to the Gulf state he belonged to.

After a while, the defendant urged the victim to visit her in her furnished apartment and sent him a video clip about the apartment. The victim came to the defendant’s place of residence and had physical relations with her before he left.

Four days later, the defendant sent him photos on a social media programme, which showed him naked in her room, and told him that she had other photos and a video clip showing him while he was having sex with her. She asked him to transfer 200,000 Bahraini dinars in return for not posting the photos and video clip.

The victim said the defendant took advantage of the nature of his work, being a well-known figure, and installed hidden cameras in her room. He added that he filed a complaint with the Department of Anti-cyber Crimes in his home country.

In a separate event, the Dubai Criminal Court on Tuesday started hearing the first session of a case in which a gang of 7 African women on a visit visa were charged with defrauding those interested in getting a massage. The defendants lured two victims and stole Dhs3,700 from them after holding them in custody.

The defendants used an old trick to lure victims by placing massaging advertisements on a social media app and set a trap to rob them. As soon as they arrived in the place at the agreed time, the two victims were surprised by the defendants attacking them and stealing Dhs3,000 from one of them and Dhs700 from the other.