Ronald Oates, the man believed to be major player behind a computer hacking ring, was yesterday granted $500,000 bail with strict restrictions.

Oates is accused of hacking into the computers and other devices of unsuspecting persons and removing explicit photos.

He is charged with offences under the Cyber Crimes Act and the Larceny Act.

It is further alleged that he extorted money from persons whose photos he threatened to post to the internet. As a condition of his bail, Oates was ordered to stay away from computers, the internet and high-tech mobile telephones.

Resident Magistrate Georgianna Fraser also imposed a curfew order between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

In addition, Oates was ordered to report daily to the Rollingon Town police between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

He was also ordered to surrender his travel documents and a stop order was placed on him.

Oates is scheduled to return to the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on October 16.

Following months of investigation, Oates was arrested at his St. Andrew home on August 27 during a raid by the police.

The police say during the operation they recovered several computers, cellphones, wireless modems, thumb drives and telephone SIM cards.

Police investigators say hundreds of persons have been affected by the scam. He is being represented by attorney at law Zara Lewis.