Bail was yesterday increased to $1 million for the man believed to be the major player behind a computer hacking ring, Ronald Oates.

Oates was granted $500,000 bail in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court last week, however, he was later slapped with an additional charge under the Cyber Crimes Act and the Larceny Act.

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

Oates is scheduled to return to court on October 16.

Allegations are that he extorted money from persons whose photos he threatened to post to the internet.

The conditions of his bail remain the same.

Oates was again reminded to stay away from computers, the internet and high-tech mobile telephones.

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

In addition, Oates is to report daily to the Rollington 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.

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.