Algerian authorities have apprehended three women, aged between 23 and 29, for forming a gang that blackmailed businessmen in the Béjaïa province. The Police judiciaire de la Sûreté de la wilaya de Béjaïa cracked the case after a 61-year-old entrepreneur filed a complaint against an unknown individual who threatened to humiliate him by publishing compromising photos unless he paid a substantial sum of money.
According to the police, the suspect demanded 400 million centimes from the businessman to retrieve the incriminating evidence and prevent its publication. The police set a trap for the suspect, who was arrested while collecting the agreed-upon sum near a university residence in Béjaïa. The suspect was found in possession of a flash drive containing photos and videos of the businessman with a university student.
Investigations revealed that the three suspects, all university students, were involved in a blackmail scheme targeting businessmen. They would establish relationships with their victims, engage in intimate activities, and secretly record the encounters. Another suspect would then threaten to publish the compromising content unless the victims paid the demanded sums.
The police have identified the roles of each suspect in the gang. One suspect would seduce the victims and record their intimate encounters, while another would blackmail them and demand payment. The third suspect's role has not been disclosed. The victims were chosen carefully, and the suspects used the recorded content to extort large sums of money.
A criminal case has been filed against the suspects, charging them with forming a gang, taking photos in a private location without consent, and threatening to publish compromising content. The suspects were presented before the prosecutor of the Béjaïa tribunal and have been detained in custody.
The suspects, all university students, are believed to have targeted multiple businessmen using this blackmail scheme. The police are investigating possible additional victims and gathering evidence to build a strong case against the suspects. The community has welcomed the arrest, citing concerns about the increasing number of such crimes in the region.
The Algerian police have praised the cooperation between the judicial and law enforcement agencies in cracking the case. The authorities have assured the public that they will continue to work to combat such crimes and protect citizens from blackmail and extortion. The case is ongoing, with further investigations and court proceedings expected.
Key points
- Three university students arrested for blackmailing businessmen in Béjaïa province
- Suspects used intimate recordings to extort large sums of money from victims
- Case highlights growing concern about blackmail crimes in Algeria
