Couple nabbed for ‘blackmail’

Couple nabbed for ‘blackmail’

OPERATIVES of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 arrested a Norwegian national and his live-in partner for allegedly threatening to upload her nude photos to a social networking site.

The suspects were identified as Michael Vedal and Louella Bingil.

Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Soliver Peras issued the warrant.

“They would have a shoot and he would convince the models to just strip off their clothes so the result would be pleasing. Sometimes, he would ask them to play with themselves, and that would lead to arguments because the models refused,” said a source, who asked not to be named.

Marie (not her real name), in her affidavit, said she met Vedal on Facebook. She said the suspect offered her P30,000 for a modeling stint.

She agreed to work for him last April.

Threats

On the fifth day of her photo shoot, Vedal and Bingil allegedly took malicious and lewd videos of her without her consent.

Marie, 25, said the photos were taken in the suspects’ apartment in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City where she would dress in sexy clothes.

When she told the couple she was quitting, Vedal allegedly threatened to upload her nude photos to Facebook if she did.

Vedal also allegedly asked her to have sex with him. When she refused, he allegedly issued the same threat.

Marie said she worked for Vedal for a month before she sought the help of the CIDG 7.

Charges

Last Thursday, the CIDG 7 raided the couple’s apartment and confiscated storage devices like hard disks, USBs and a laptop.

The confiscated items will be forwarded to the AntiCybercrime Office. These will be used as further evidences against the suspects.

Supt. Fermin Armendares III told Sun.Star Cebu that the suspects will be charged with violating Republic Act 9995, or the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009.

Vedal and Bingil are temporarily detained at the CIDG 7 stockade. They will be transferred to the Cebu City Jail today.