An alleged attempt to blackmail telecommunications company Digicel of $4 million in cash and $2 million in phone credit and high-end cellphones, has left one man facing the courts.

The man, 19-year-old Leon Pryce, is alleged to have threatened to reveal incriminating information about the company if they did not pay him.

His alleged blackmail attempt, however, was not successful and Pryce was arrested and charged with extortion. He appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday and was remanded in custody.

The allegations are that Pryce contacted the company and told representatives that he was in possession of information that would tarnish the company's image locally and overseas. He allegedly said he had contacted a reporter from an overseas newspaper who was willing to pay US$35,000 (J$3,045,000) for the information. He also threatened to publish the information locally.

It is alleged that Pryce demanded the cash, $1million in phone credit and another $1 million in high-end phones, in order to keep the information from the public.

It is further alleged that Pryce turned up at the company's offices with a detailed contract after he was asked by Digicel representatives for a guarantee that he would not publish the information after being paid. He reportedly showed up with the contract a day later.

Pryce was given a cheque for $4 million, but was arrested the same day as he was about to leave the office by investigators from the Organised Crime Investigation Division.

When the matter came up in court, Pryce said he was a good person, and told Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey that he was recently baptised. He also asked for a chance.