High Court releases man accused of extorting over MVR 300,000 by claiming possession of nude photos

A man arrested last year for extorting more than MVR 300,000 from a woman by claiming he possessed her nude photographs has been released by the High Court.

According to police, the suspect, Mohamed Fawaz Luthufee, 32, of Liligasdhoshuge, S. Feydhoo, was arrested last year in connection with the blackmail case.

Records show that on December 19, 2024, a case was reported against a man and a woman for threatening, blackmailing and extorting more than MVR 300,000 from the victim.

The prosecution charged Mohamed Fawaz Luthufee with blackmail. However, in April, at the preliminary stage of the case, the Criminal Court ruled that the case could not proceed under civil standards.

The prosecution appealed the ruling at the High Court.

On Thursday, the High Court bench delivered a split decision. The majority, Chief Judge Abdulla Jameel and Judge Ismail Shafeeu, decided that the case could not be continued. The dissenting judge, Fatimath Farheeza, held that the lower court’s decision should be quashed.