Naked Video, Couple Face More Charges

THE YOUNG couple charged with a naked video-chat scam face new accusations of extorting S$150,000 (RM360,000) from a student.

Yap Siew Ting, 17, and her boyfriend Alexander Soh Zhi Ren, 21, were initially accused of extorting S$6,000 (RM14,400) from 22-year-old Ng Yong Cheng.

But the figure was increased to S$150,000 in an amended charge tendered by the prosecution on Wednesday, The Straits Times reported.

The couple now face between three and 11 new charges.

They had threatened to upload Ng's nude video onto the Internet if he did not give them money.

Initially charged with extorting money from Ng by putting him in fear of injury to his reputation, the duo was held at Ang Mo Kio police division and then remanded for another week on March 7 to facilitate further investigations.

The Straits Times said the couple had tried to extort between S$1,000 (RM2,400) and S$10,000 (RM24,000) from five men by threatening to upload their nude videos on the Internet.

Soh faces another charge of failing to report for duty while being a full-time national service man in the Singapore Civil Defence Force from Aug 2010 to Feb this year.

The alleged offence occurred at Yap's home in Marsiling Drive on Jan 8. The maximum penalty for extortion is seven years' jail and caning. (The Straits Times)