Salesman Mina Soltan blackmailed Hwatu Korean restaurant Carlton with social media mouse video

A “cruel” salesman who filmed a mouse scurry through a Carlton Korean restaurant demanded $10,000 not to post the video on social media.

The owner of Carlton Korean BBQ style restaurant Hwatu at Lygon St was blackmailed with a threat to post a video of a mouse on social media.

A degenerate salesman threatened to post a video on social media of a mouse filmed scurrying through a Carlton Korean restaurant if the owner did not pay him $10,000.

Mina Soltan, 34, was sentenced in the County Court on Tuesday to a two-year community correction order after pleading guilty to blackmail.

Soltan blackmailed Cheuk Yin Au, the owner of Carlton Korean BBQ restaurant Hwatu, after filming a mouse scurry through the Lygon St eatery on May 12 last year.

Soltan told Mr Au, via a phone call, he could get “sick” at his “dirty restaurant”.

Mr Au offered Soltan $300 for “medical expenses” but the blackmailer refused.

“We’re talking about thousands,” Soltan said.

Soltan quizzed Mr Au on his sales and demanded to look inside the till.

Mr Au later sent Soltan a text.

“Would you be happy to take $1,000 for this (sic) issues? I know its not a (sic) big money and I appreciate your help to sort this out with us privately,” Mr Au said.

Soltan called Mr Au with his demand.

“Give me $10,000 or your business will be in trouble,” Soltan said.

Soltan told Mr Au he had until the next day to pay but was “happy to settle” for $5000 if paid earlier.

Soltan warned Mr Au the mouse video was going on social media and he could make the restaurant “close for three days”.

Mr Au recorded a later phone conversation with Soltan

“If you wanna do it now, straightaway, five,” Soltan said.

“If you’re gunna think about it, it’s back to 10 … you’ve got a lot of Uber (Eats) … I’ve seen, mate, at least 15 orders being done through Uber while I was just there plus four tables …

“The upstairs sink … do you wash … the mop bucket in the sink … It’s absolutely disgusting mate …

“I went to my partner, I go, ‘you know what, it’s a filthy place … I hope you’re not gunna get sick’ and literally five minutes later, I’ve seen the mice …”

Mr Au recorded a second call.

“What I’m saying to you is … you’re gunna transfer five by tomorrow and, by Friday, the rest of it …,” Soltan said.

”If you can show me some effort, tomorrow transfer half of it … do you wanna do two and a half, two and a half, two and a half, two and a half?

Mr Au reported the blackmail to police on May 13 who concocted a phone sting to catch Soltan out.

“I’ll leave it in your hand, my brother, I’ll leave it in your hands … it’s your shop man … I’ve got two videos … I can take the shop from you … that’s not a issue,” Soltan said.

Soltan sent Mr Au a photograph of a mouse and a text after his victim blocked his calls.

“The video (of the mouse) you will watch on the social media … you have wasted my time … and you will be paying for it … and my partner has been sick … so good luck.”

Police obtained CCTV from Hwatu which depicted Soltan photographing a mouse.

Soltan, who was arrested at his Docklands home on June 7, admitted to police he recorded a video of mice at the restaurant but denied blackmailing Mr Au.

The victim told the court he was scared to be at his restaurant and feared reprisals from Soltan.

The court was told Soltan, who received a reference from his boss, is employed as a salesman at M.A.W Motor Group Coburg.

The defence submitted Soltan, who owed $41,000 and was being hounded by debt collectors at the time, committed “opportunistic” offending.

“The menaces were a threat to disclose adverse pest (and) environment matters that might cause reputational and business damage to the victim’s restaurant,” the defence submitted.

“It was spontaneous offending where the accused got very carried away with a silly get rich quick idea …”

Judge Rosemary Carlin, who verified there was an actual mouse scurrying through the restaurant, said Soltan’s offending was “cruel and calculated”.

Soltan was convicted and ordered to serve 300 hours of unpaid community work.

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