Court hears recordings on alleged extortion from Gyan

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.