KNUST students in trouble for 'sextortion' and cyberbullying
The Takoradi Circuit Court has remanded two second-year Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) students into police detention due to their suspected involvement in a “sextortion” scheme.
Ebenezer Adam, a 19-year-old resident of Kojokrom, and Jerome Enyam, a 19-year-old resident of Fijai, were accused of conspiring and working in concert with the intent to commit the crime of “sextortion,” which is against both the Cyber Security Act and the Criminal Offenses Act.
Prosecuting Officer D/SGT Robert Mensah stated that the victim, Rhyndolf Owusu Hammond, 20, a former KNUST student and the son of the complainant, Mr. Stephen Owusu Hammond, was friends and year-mates with the accused students as well as a critical witness.
According to the prosecution, the victim shot a video of himself having sex with his girlfriend at the beginning of 2023 and saved it to his laptop. Then, without permission, the footage was moved to a friend’s phone. One of the accused then reportedly circulated the video to other people.
With the graphic film in hand, the accused allegedly harassed, blackmailed, and extorted GH¢1,800 from the victim in November 2023. They then demanded GH¢2,500 more under threat of posting the video on social media.
After receiving information from the victim, his father contacted the Takoradi Police Intelligence Directorate. Following an investigation, the accused students were taken into custody and the cell phones carrying the video evidence was confiscated.
After being charged and presented before the Takoradi Circuit Court, the accused students were placed under police custody while additional legal proceedings were taking place.
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