Two students from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have been remanded by a Takoradi Circuit Court for engaging in a ‘sextortion’ scheme.
Jerome Enyam, 19 years old, and Ebenezer Adam, also 19 years old, were charged with acting together with a common purpose to commit a crime, which is a violation of the Criminal Offenses Act and the Cyber Security Act.
According to the prosecution, the two accused students, who were friends and classmates of the victim, Rhyndolf Owusu Hammond, 20 years old, filmed a sexual encounter with his girlfriend and uploaded it onto his laptop. A key witness, Ekow Wilson, then transferred the video to his phone without knowing that one of the accused had also obtained the video and shared it with others.
Subsequently, the accused students harassed, threatened, and coerced the victim to extort an amount of GH¢1,800 from him or release the video on social media. They even sent a text message demanding GH¢2,500 from the victim. However, the victim reported the situation to his father, who then involved the police. The accused were arrested, and cell phones containing the video were seized as evidence.
The case has brought to light the dangers of ‘sextortion’ and the importance of cybersecurity in protecting individuals from such malicious schemes. It serves as a reminder for students and the general public to be cautious about sharing personal or sensitive information online to avoid falling victim to similar crimes.
The accused students are currently in police custody awaiting further legal proceedings. The incident highlights the need for increased awareness and education on cybercrimes to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
Tags: KNUST, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Sextortion.
