PETALING JAYA: Police have confirmed receiving reports from four politicians over blackmail attempts involving artificial intelligence (AI)-generated lewd videos, with investigations now underway.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Comm Datuk M. Kumar said the reports were lodged by Subang MP Wong Chen, Senator Datuk Nelson W. Angang, Kulim state assemblyman Wong Chia Zhen and Sungai Petani MP Mohammed Taufiq Johari.
All cases involved the same modus operandi, where the victims were threatened with the spread of so-called lewd videos unless they paid a cryptocurrency ransom of US$100,000 (RM420,500).
“The cases are being investigated under Section 385 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. Police are working with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to trace the origin of the e-mails and obtain related information,” Comm Kumar said yesterday.
He said any party involved in producing, spreading, or exploiting such material would face “firm and comprehensive action”, adding that police would not compromise with anyone attempting to disrupt national security, public order or harmony.
Subang Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Wan Azlan Wan Mamat also confirmed that MCMC’s assistance was sought to track the sender.
The extortion attempt came to light on Saturday when former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli revealed he and Wong Chen were both targeted.
They were threatened with the release of AI-generated videos that supposedly showed them with another man if they refused to pay up.
“The screenshots shared with me showed a man, a bed in a room and a blurry background.
“Half an hour later, Wong Chen messaged me. We compared screencaps and apparently we’ve been accused of sleeping with the same man,” Rafizi said.
