Trial over alleged Asamoah Gyan sex tape begins
Sarah Kwablah the lady at the centre of the alleged Asamoah Gyan sex tape saga on Thursday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.
The court had issued a bench warrant for her arrest following her non-appearance in previous sittings, where three other accomplices were put before the court.
Ms Afi Agbanu Kudimor, who presided over the case after listening to Sarah’s counsel, Dr Maurice Ampaw submission’s, rescinded the bench warrant and admitted her to bail.
Sarah was admitted to bail in the GH¢60,000 with three sureties after pleading not guilty to the charges of conspiracy and extortion.
She is standing trial with three others namely, Osafo Anthony, a 29-year old journalist, Chris Handler, a 24-year old blogger and Ekow Micah, a 43-year old musician. They have also been charged with conspiracy and extortion.
Micah Ekow, a Musician and an accomplice, was charged with abetment of crime. They have denied the charges.
Anthony and Handler had been admitted to a bail of GH¢60,000.00 with three sureties.
Micah was also given a bail of GH¢20,000 with two sureties. When the case was called Micah had not been brought from lawful custody.
Earlier, Dr Ampaw had told the court that Sarah had pleaded not guilty because the facts presented before the court are not the truth.
According to defence counsel, there was misrepresentation in the facts and at the right time they would set “the records straight.”
Defence counsel said Sarah was not aware that the matter was coming to court, adding that, Sarah heard about the case in the media.
Counsel said Sarah went to bury her father and as a sign of respect, she reported to the court as soon as she arrived in Accra.
Dr Ampaw therefore prayed the court to admit Sarah to bail as she had a fixed place of abode and would not interrupt with Police investigations, although the Police had concluded their investigations.
Mounting the witness box, Mr Samuel Anim Addo, a businessman and a manager of Black Stars skipper, Asamoah Gyan, admitted knowing the accused person through his boss (Asamoah Gyan.)
Led in evidence by ACP Moses Atibillah, Mr Addo said he got to know the accused persons after they had threatened the Black Stars skipper with text messages to defame him.
Mr Addo said the accused persons also threatened to publish an alleged sexual encounter between Sarah and Mr Gyan.
According to the first prosecution witness, it was Sarah who first threatened the Black Star Skipper so he lodged complainant with the Police at Odorkor.
Mr Addo said at the Police Station, the matter was settled between himself, Mr Gyan and his lawyer, Mr Kissi Adjabeng, Sarah and her lawyer, Mr Ampaw.
According to the witness, Mr Gyan agreed to take of care of Sarah after test conducted on her proved she was pregnant.
Also parties agreed that a DNA test would be conducted after she gives birth, prosecution witness told the court.
Despite the agreement, Anthony went ahead to publish a story on the alleged sex tape on GH base website.
Meanwhile, the witness said Sarah failed to go for another pregnancy test at GNAT Heights although that was paid for.
Mr Addo said Anthony told him that he would continue to publish stories on the GH base website if he does not get some money from them.
Anthony, witness said however demanded GH¢30,000, adding if he (Mr Addo) failed to pay he would publish more stories.
Witness said he reported the matter to the Police at Airport, who told him to feign interest so that they could arrest Anthony.
Mr Addo said the Police accompanied him to Spice Pub at Dansoman Round about to meet Anthony.
Witness said based on the advice of his lawyer he fixed a camera on him to obtain evidence on Anthony.
According to him, he paid cedi equivalent of GH¢10,000 and a cheque of GH¢15,000.
When asked about the whereabouts of the money, video recordings, and the cheque, witness said it was with the Police at Airport.
The prosecuting Assistant Commissioner of Police Moses Atibillah on September 18 told the court that Mr Anim Addo is the complainant and a manager of Gyan.
Prosecution said Anthony is an employee of Handler. In June, an alleged sex scandal story broke out in Ghana’s electronic and print media and the said story was attributed to Gyan.
ACP Atibillah explained that, in the said publication, Sarah alleged that Gyan had had sexual intercourse and anal sex with her, and that, she became pregnant as a result of the act.
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, to give them money.
Anthony and Handler published the first story on their website and promised to release the sex tape in their subsequent editions.
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.
ACP Atiibilah said in the complainant’s bid to protect the image of Gyan, he asked Anthony and Handler to hold on with the publication.
Prosecution said Anthony and Handler threatened to defame Gyan and they called for an urgent payment of the money.
Complainant, prosecution said, feigned interest to pay. When Handler was contacted they charged GH¢30,000. Complainant bargained and they settled on GH¢25,000.00.
Complainant, Anthony and Handler agreed to meet at the London Restaurant.
Complainant reported the matter to the Police and on July 29, Anthony met him at the London Restaurant and $1,000.00; GH¢6,000 and a cheque of GH¢15,000 were given to him (Anthony).
Anthony was however nabbed when he received the money. The rest of the accused persons were arrested later.
Source: GNA