The Hafr Al-Batin branch of Haia has arrested a Gulf man in his thirties for extorting and blackmailing Saudi women via the WhosHere application program.
Upon searching the mobile phone in his possession, the Haia found pictures and videos of young girls and the man was arrested and handed over to security authorities for legal proceedings, a source has been quoted as saying by local media.
“The program shows the location of the closest users, and lists them from nearest to farthest, and is not only accessible via smartphones but also on ordinary computers,” the source revealed. “Most crimes that the Haia encounters, be they extortion or immoral behavior, occur via WhosHere app.”
According to lawyer Mohammed Ajlan, “Article 2 of the Informational Technology Act stipulates punishment against blackmailers and extortionists of up to five years in prison or a fine of up to SR3 million riyals or both.”
The law states: “This punishment applies to both residents and citizens and includes all those who carry out any information technology crimes, such as listening in on information transmitted across networks or computers without legal justification; threatening or blackmailing someone to force them to do something or prevent them from doing something, even if the act they are preventing or forcing them to do is legal; as well as defaming others or hurting them through such technologies.”
Source: Arab News