Arrest after New Zealand companies blackmailed

(Newshub.)
(Newshub.)

Police have arrested a 55-year-old Hawke's Bay man after he allegedly blackmailed several New Zealand companies.

The man has been charged with seven counts of blackmail, which police have been investigating for more than a month.

He was arrested on Wednesday when police executed a search warrant in Napier.

Detective inspector Chris Cahill says after careful consideration, police decided not to make the threat public until now.

"Cases such as these are taken very seriously by police and this matter has been under investigation since the threats were received in July.

"This decision could have been reviewed at any stage if police had become aware of any new information which might have changed the risk assessment."

The man will appear in the Hastings District Court today. Blackmail carries a maximum sentence of 14 years' imprisonment.

Newshub