Asamoah Gyan case thrown out

An Accra Circuit Court yesterday threw out a text message supposedly sent by one Osafo Anthony, a 29-year-old journalist, to Samuel Anim Addo, manager of Asamoah Gyan, the Black Stars captain.

The court preside over by Ms Afia Agbanu Kumador ruled that the text message the prosecution had sought to tender through the witness was without a source.

The judge held that the message did not have the telephone number of the sender.

This was after Lamti Apanga had objected to the tendering of the document on the basis that the message was from an anonymous sender.

He stated that in today’s computer age anybody could generate what had been tendered as the supposed text message, an objection the court upheld.

This compelled the prosecution led by ACP Moses Atibilla to ask for an adjournment.

Earlier, he argued that Anim Addo who was to testify in the case had already told the court that he received the said message from Anthony.

He contended that Apanga was only trying to “swerve the wheels of justice.”

Dr Maurice Ampaw, another member of the defence team, said he was surprised the prosecution appeared not ready for the trial.

He said his clients—Sarah Kwablah, student, 21, Anthony, and Ekow Micah, 43—had other engagements but had come to court only to be told by the prosecutor that the case could not continue.

Apanga, who represented 24-year-old Chris Handler, a blogger, said it was a bit strange that the prosecution was taking a date for adjournment.

He said the prosecution had to prepare very well and stop the piece meal approach to the trial, insisting that the trial was not “pizza”, a word he redrew and apologised for using.

The trial judge nonetheless warned the prosecution to do the right thing, adding that she was not going to oblige the prosecution any adjournment if they were not ready for the case.

Ms Agbanu Kumador was emphatic that the prosecution had not been fair to the court.

Facts

The four are standing trial for allegedly extorting GH¢25,000 from one Samuel Anim Addo by means of threat.

Anthony and Chris are currently on bail in the sum of GH¢60,000 with three sureties each while Micah was bailed in the sum of GH¢20,000 with one surety.

Sarah is also on bail in the sum of GH¢60,000 with three sureties.

Hearing has been adjourned until November 9, 2015 when the prosecution is expected to lead Anim Addo in further evidence in the case.

Anim Addo had earlier told the court that the accused persons had threatened Asamoah Gyan, the Black Stars captain, with evidence of text messages to defame him (Gyan) and subsequently follow it with a publication of a sex video if some amounts of money were not paid.

According to Addo, Sarah was the first to threaten and he reported the case to the Odorkor police.

Addo said Osafo Anthony, as a result, demanded GH¢30,000 and threatened to publish more stories if the money was not paid.

He said the police asked him to feign interest in the payment of the money, stressing that he met Osafo at an agreed venue and paid GH¢10,000 cash and a cheque of GH¢15,000, whereupon the journalist was arrested.