An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced an unemployed man, Joshua Asiedu, also known as Kwame Ketewa, to three years in prison for sharing naked pictures of his ex-girlfriend with his friends on social media. As part of the sentencing, he was also ordered to pay compensation of GH₵10,000 to the 19-year-old victim for the pain and emotional stress he caused her.
The court, presided over by Mrs. Christina Cann, found Asiedu guilty of the charge of non-consensual sharing of intimate images. According to the police, Asiedu shared the victim’s nude pictures on his WhatsApp status after she broke up with him. However, the court noted that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against Asiedu regarding the charges of making threats of death and domestic violence, specifically emotional abuse.
Consequently, Asiedu was acquitted and discharged of these two offenses. In a plea for mitigation, he implored the judge to show mercy, stating that “All the allegations against me are untrue.”
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei, explained that the complainant is a 49-year-old trader residing in Accra, while the victim is a 19-year-old Senior High School graduate who resides with her mother in Odorkor, Accra. Asiedu, the convict, also resides in Odorkor.
The prosecution’s account indicates that in 2018, Asiedu engaged in an illicit relationship with the victim, which became known to her father. Subsequently, the victim informed Asiedu that she no longer wished to continue the relationship, leading to their breakup. In 2021, Asiedu, displeased with the victim’s decision, posted her nude pictures on his WhatsApp status for public viewing. He then shared these photos with two of the victim’s friends.
Following this incident, Asiedu consistently threatened the victim, making her feel unhappy, miserable, humiliated, afraid, and depressed. Authorities at the victim’s school noticed her emotional distress and invited her parents to the school. The victim was provided counseling, and a report was submitted following her counseling session.
The complainant reported Asiedu’s behavior to the Domestic Violence and Victim’s Support Unit on May 17, 2021. Upon learning that the police were seeking him, Asiedu fled to an unknown location. However, on January 26, 2023, he resurfaced and was subsequently arrested. The prosecutor obtained an investigation caution statement from him and retrieved the victim’s nude pictures and audio recordings of the threats from her father’s cell phones for evidential purposes.
Source: Myjoyonline