[ 2016-02-09 ]

Court hears recordings on alleged extortion from Gyan
Accra Feb. 9, GNA - Four audio recordings
depicting how Sarah Kwablah and three others were
planning how to extort money from the Black Star
Captain Asamoah Gyan over alleged an sex tape has
been played in court.

The audio tapes were played when Mr Samuel Anim
Addo, Captain Gyan’s Manager was cross-examined
at an Accra Circuit Court.

Sarah, a student, is standing trial with three
others: Osafo Anthony a 29-year old journalist,
Chris Handler, a 24-year old blogger and Ekow
Micah, a 43-year old musician, over an alleged sex
video scandal involving Captain Gyan.

They have been charged with conspiracy and
extortion; however, they have all denied the
charges.

Administering questions under cross-examination by
Mr Lanting Akpanga, the counsel for Handler, Mr
Anim Addo said he obtained the recordings from the
Police after all the parties had met at the
offices of the Regional Criminal Investigation
Department, in Accra.

Mr Anim Addo said the audio tapes played in court
were the same as the recording, which had been
tendered in court on a pen drive.

According to him, he personally requested for the
audio tapes from the Police because he was the
complainant in the matter.

Mr Anim Addo said when the Police told the accused
persons about the audio tapes, they challenged the
Police, saying there were no voice recordings.

The prosecution witness agreed with the defence
counsel’s statement that he (Mr Addo) had also
had conversation with the accused persons on phone
concerning the sex tape.

He, however, disagreed with the defence
counsel’s statement that in those conversations,
he had a discussion with the accused persons on
the “ways and means of settling the matter”.

Mr Anim Addo also disagreed with the defence
counsel’s claim that he had come to court with
the selected audio tapes.

According to him, he brought those tapes that
contained enough evidence in relation to the
matter before the court.

The Prosecution said on September 18, the Court
was told that Mr Anim Addo was the complainant and
a manager of Captain Gyan.

The Prosecution said Anthony was an employee of
Handler, and that in June, an alleged sex scandal
story was carried on the electronic media and the
print media involving Gyan.

The Prosecution explained that in the said
publication, Sarah alleged that Captain Gyan had
had vaginal and anal sex with her, from which she
had become pregnant.

According to the Prosecutor, Sarah discussed the
issue with Micah and met Anthony and Handler to
discuss the issue to publish the story on their
website in order to scare Gyan, who would in turn
give them money.

Anthony and Handler published the first story on
their website and promised to release the sex tape
in their subsequent editions.

The Prosecution said a witness in the case read
the story on their website, known as
Ghanabase.com, and alerted the complainant.

The complainant contacted Anthony on phone and
they threatened to release the sex tape unless a
colossal amount was paid or a house was bought for
Sarah.

The Prosecution said in the complainant’s bid to
protect the image of Captain Gyan, he asked
Anthony and Handler to hold on with the
publication.

The Prosecution said Anthony and Handler, however,
threatened to defame Gyan and they otherwise
called for an urgent payment of the money.

The complainant, the Prosecution said,
consequently, feigned interest in settling the
matter.

When Handler was contacted, the Prosecutor said
they charged GH¢30,000.00 but after some
bargaining, and they settled on GH¢25,000.00.

He said the complainant, with Anthony and Handler,
agreed to meet at the Landing Restaurant, but he
thereafter reported the matter to the Police.

He said on July 29, Anthony went to the Landing
Restaurant, where $1,000.00; GH¢6,000.00; and a
for cheque of GH¢15,000.00 were given to him.

Anthony was, however, nabbed when he received the
money, while the rest of the accused persons were
arrested later.

The accused persons have since been granted bail.

Sarah was admitted to bail in the sum of
GH¢60,000.00 with three sureties after her not
guilty plea.

Anthony and Handler have also been admitted to a
bail of GH¢60,000.00 with three sureties.

Micah was also given a bail of GH¢20,000.00 with
two sureties before the Court presided over by Ms
Afi Agbanu Kudimor.

Source - GNA

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