Bogus photographer arrested for coercing sexual favours

[Shin Orochi]

Bogus photographer arrested for coercing sexual favours
Posted: 03 February 2010 2300 hrs
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SINGAPORE : Police have arrested a 35-year-old man who posed as a professional photographer to coerce young female victims into giving in to his sexual demands and giving him money.

Since November, two such cases were reported. In these cases, the suspect had befriended two 20-year-old female victims online and led them to believe that he would pay them for modelling assignments.

When the suspect met the victims, he would request for them to undress and pose in revealing photo shoots.

At the end of the photo-shoot, the suspect would renege on his promise to pay the victims or assist them in securing modelling assignments.

He would also threaten to post compromising photos of the victim on the Internet if the victims did not give in to his sexual demands or give him money.

The culprit had remained elusive and could not be easily traced. However, through protracted enquiries and investigative follow-up, officers from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division managed to arrest the culprit at Kitchener Road on Tuesday.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect could be involved in more cases. Police are urging his victims to lodge a police report if they have not done so.

The suspect will be charged in court on Thursday for Cheating and Criminal Intimidation under the Penal Code. A court order will be sought to remand him for further investigations. - CNA /ls