THE organiser of Manhunt Singapore 2008 said the matter is not likely to affect Dexter's chances at the competition.

'Manhunt contestants are judged by their performances on stage and their actual competition scores during the contest - not what he has done in his life,' Mr Dinesh Sujanani, director of Punch! Events and Promotions, the organiser for Manhunt, said.

'If the contestant had done such a shoot during the contest, we would look into the matter.

'But this was something he had done in the past.'

Mr Sujanani said he felt sorry for the contestant, but added that these were the consequences of his decision.

Not all contest organisers are as flexible.

Recently, Miss France almost lost her crown when suggestive pictures of her appeared in a French gossip magazine.

She was allowed to retain her title but on condition that she would not take part in any international beauty pageant as long as she held the title.

Mr Sujanani said it is not uncommon for models to pose nude, but the models must take precautions, such as checking with their agents and making sure a chaperone is around.

He added: 'Freelance models without agents have to use their own judgements.

'They can request to look at the photographer's portfolio and check his background.'

A lawyer specialising in intellectual property said it is not illegal to have nude pictures taken, but it is illegal to distribute them.

Mr Alban Kang said: 'Under Singapore law, the copyright of the pictures belongs to the photographer.

'Even if there was no model release form, the photos belong to the person who took them, unless the model has engaged the photographer to take the pictures.'

On the issue of someone impersonating another to send an e-mail, criminal lawyer Mr Adrian Wee said this may be considered cheating.

Mr Wee said: 'Impersonation on the Internet or in person may constitute an offence of cheating.'

Such an offence carries a punishment of up to one year's jail or a fine or both.

If someone has impersonated another person and has hacked into his or her account, that would constitute an offence under the Computer Misuse Act.

In this case, the penalty is up to two years' jail and a fine of $5,000.

On whether it is illegal to post nude pictures on a website, Mr Wee said this would depend on the law of the country which is hosting the website.