Charges stayed against Winnipeg man accused in sextortion case police said involved victims in 4 provinces

Charges have been stayed against a man accused of threatening to post intimate images online unless he was paid money by victims across four provinces, after prosecutors decided not to proceed with the case because of victims' "unwillingness to relive the experience by testifying."

Tongun Justin Tongun was charged with 10 counts of extortion in June 2023, following an investigation that began in January of that year, when a man in his 20s reported he'd shared intimate images with someone online who presented themselves as a young woman, Winnipeg police said at the time.

The man said the person he sent the photos to threatened to share them online unless he sent money, which he did, according to police.

The following month, police identified three more victims and charged Tongun with four counts of extortion.

A subsequent investigation allegedly linked Tongun to similar crimes across Canada, and six more male victims were identified across Manitoba, Alberta, Ontario and Prince Edward Island, leading to Tongun's additional charges in June 2023, police said previously. 

Manitoba court records show all 10 counts of extortion against Tongun, who was 21 at the time he was charged, were stayed on May 7.

A provincial spokesperson said in an email Tuesday that decision was made after victims in the case didn't want to testify in court.

"In preparation for this matter the Crown contacted a number of victims," the email said.

"After reviewing the matter and taking into consideration the impact to the victims [and] their unwillingness to relive the experience by testifying, the Crown determined not to proceed but did seek restitution for all the victims as per their wishes."

A stay means while the charges are not formally withdrawn, they are not proceeding through court at this time. The province has a year from the date charges were stayed to reinstate them.