KUALA LUMPUR: Former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli says he has been blackmailed over a sex video.
He said he received an email containing a purported clip allegedly showing him with another man.
The sender demanded US$100,000 (about RM420,000) to prevent it from being circulated.
“They sent a screenshot of the video and even included a QR code supposedly for transferring the money.
“The screenshot shows a man in bed in a blurry setting similar to a previous video. It looks like my face is there,” he said in a social media statement today.
Rafizi said the video is believed to be an old clip that was re-edited to hack his electronic devices and mount a smear campaign.
“I frequently face hacking attempts on my phone, laptop and other devices.
“The most serious was when an international firm tried to hack my iPhone and Apple account. But iPhone‘s security features are better — whenever there’s an attempt, Apple immediately instructs me to shut down my phone and related devices,” he said.
The Pandan MP claimed he has been targeted by hackers four times in nine months — on Nov 14, 2024; March 6; June 25; and Sept 3 this year.
Rafizi also said Subang MP Wong Chen informed him he had received the same blackmail email yesterday.
“They accused us of having a relationship with the same man. The MP has already lodged a police report,” he said.
Subang Jaya police chief Assistant Commissioner Wan Azlan Wan Mamat confirmed receiving the report.
He said the case is being investigated under Section 385 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
“Investigations are ongoing to trace the email sender,” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
