The man accused of extorting money from popular actor Oliver Samuels and stealing two high-end phones from his house was on Monday remanded when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court.

His case will again be mentioned on September 7.

Twenty-nine-year-old Junior Webster Sommerville was in June charged with extortion, threatening to commit murder and larceny.

Sommerville is accused of extorting more than $100,000 from Samuels and stealing two phones, valued at nearly $200,000, from the 66-year-old actor.

Samuels reportedly met Sommerville in March this year and the two developed a relationship. Sommerville allegedly stole two Samsung Galaxy phones from Samuels’ St Andrew home in May.

Oliver Samuels
Oliver Samuels

It’s also alleged that Sommerville began extorting money from Samuels and threatened to kill him if he refused to pay up. He reportedly extorted more than $130,000 in May and early June from the actor.

Following repeated death threats, Samuels reported the matter to the police and Sommerville was arrested and charged on June 8. He was later released on bail.

Sommerville had been offered bail previously but it was revoked after Samuels told the court that the accused man had been sending threats to his family members while he was off the island.

By Racquel Porter

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