V/R: Student, painter in court for sexual extortion in Keta

Two young men from Keta in the Volta Region are facing trial before the Ho Circuit Court for allegedly extorting a total of $6000 from a US-based Ghanaian after threatening to post a video of him naked on social media.

They are Peter Awudi, 23, a painter; and Prosper Boafor, 19, a student.

They both pleaded not guilty to sexual extortion when they appeared before the court on Tuesday, March 19.

A third person, Famous Nusese, alias Get Rich, said to be their accomplice, is on the run.

The court, presided over by Mr Felix Datsomor, was told that on October 3, 2023, Awudi posed as Celestine Bedzra, with a photograph of a beautiful lady on a Facebook Messenger account and sent the alleged victim (name withheld) a friendship request, which he accepted.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Noah K. Amuzu, who represented the Republic, said Awudi later started chatting with the alleged victim, who is the complainant in the case.

The prosecution said at a point, the chat between Awudi and the complainant turned romantic, with Boafor, the second accused, aiding Awudi to chat with him as a lady.

Awudi then told the complainant that he was deeply in love with him, and that was followed by the exchange of nude photographs between the alleged victim and the supposed lady.

Later, the accused persons convinced the man to send a video of himself naked, which they forwarded to their accomplice.

At that juncture, the accomplice sent the video to the complainant, claiming he was a blogger who had intercepted the video, demanding a ransom of $1000 in order not to leak it.

The complainant pleaded with their accomplice and sent him $500, in addition to $300, for workmanship, through mobile money transfer.

Thereafter, the three made persistent demands for money from the man and succeeded in extorting a total of $6000 (GH¢72,000) from him.

Finally, the exasperated victim reported the matter to the Volta Regional Minister, who referred the case to the police.

The court heard on February 7, this year, that the two accused persons were arrested at their hideout in Keta.

The prosecution said the accused persons admitted the offence when they were interrogated by the police.

The court granted each of them bail in the sum of GH¢100,000, with two sureties.

However, they were unable to execute the bail bond and were escorted back into police custody. Hearing continues on April 12.