Fight ramps up in battle to unmask the identity of high-profile figure whose extra-marital affair with a woman led to an extortion attempt

By CANDACE SUTTON, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 11:08, 7 June 2026 | Updated: 11:16, 7 June 2026 The identity of a well-known Queensland public figure whose extramarital affair led to an alleged extortion attempt could be revealed - as lawyers battle to keep it secret. Cairns Magistrates Court will hold extraordinary hearings on Monday after the almost accidental revelation of the man's name as the ex-lover of the Cairns woman. The prominent figure and the woman are said to have had an affair in 2017 and another man allegedly attempted to extort the woman over it. Under the suppression order he is referred to as simply MM. It is believed the high-profile figure, who is married with children, is aware that his identity could be exposed. He was a regular visitor to Cairns and North Queensland where the woman resides. On Monday, the Cairns court will hold an open hearing on whether legal arguments over a suppression order on the names of the well-known man, the woman and another man charged with extortion, should proceed in a closed court. Barristers hired by media organisations will argue in either the closed or open court for the non publication order (NPO) to be lifted, at least over the name of the public figure. Also due to be discussed in court is an alleged proposal to charge a man with contempt of court after he published MM's real name online. Cairns identity Shane Cuthbert subsequently took the posts down, but he has since gone back on Facebook protesting at the fact Cairns court has refused to provide him with a copy of the NPO. The fight to unmask the identity of the high-profile man who had extra-marital affair linked to an extortion case ramps up The suppression order and the three individuals have been the subject of intense speculation since the well-known man's name was mentioned in court on May 29. This was during the court mention of a Queensland man charged with extortion, domestic violence. The mention drew gasps and hurried measures to keep it under wraps, with a magistrate withdrawing for half an hour and returning to slap an interim suppression order over the trio's identities.  The woman, who has children and whose former married and maiden names have been mentioned in court, is the complainant in the alleged extortion case before Cairns Magistrates Court. It is alleged that the man charged with extortion threatened to expose the woman's affair with MM after he found evidence of it on her phone and computer. At hearings on May 29 and June 1, it appeared that neither the prosecution nor the defence believed the name of the prominent man should be kept under wraps. Lawyers for the alleged extortionist said the high-profile man had no standing in the court proceedings against their client and the court 'should not be concerned with his embarrassment'. This was as long as it didn't identify the woman. Screenshots and emails revealing the 2017 fling have been tendered to the court. They were allegedly taken from the woman's phone, computer or other devices but are not otherwise publicly accessible online. The defence argued that the interim suppression orders were supposed to protect the women, not the well-known man with whom she'd had an affair. Unusual restrictions appear to have been placed over various aspects of the case. The man charged with alleged extortion was originally on bail conditions which prevented him speaking about the case with anyone, including his own lawyers. His defence counsel said the way Queensland Police had approached the matter had been 'irregular' and that the bail orders were more about protecting someone else. Cairns magistrate Gelma Meoli twice has retired from the court chamber to seek advice from more senior judicial officers. Defence barrister Brydie Bilic told the court last week the authenticity of the evidence of the relationship was not challenged. Ms Bilic said her client's original bail terms, made before today's hearing, were 'overarching'. 'There are concerns that it is designed to protect,' she told the court. 'There are some matters that go so far as to potentially constitute a gag order.' Ms Bilic requested the non-publication order not include the high-profile person. '[The woman and the high-profile man] don't live together or reside in the same area,' she told the court. 'There's no evidence of readily available information that would link the two together.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.