Porn website administrator enjoys temporary freedom as judge takes leave
The administrator of a porn website arrested for illegally publishing nude pictures and videos would enjoy temporary freedom as the judge trying his case goes on leave.
“The judge [Susanna Eduful] is on leave so we have been instructed to adjourn the cases for today [Tuesday],” the clerk informed court patrons.
Although the prosecution and the accused person were in court, counsel for the accused was not in court prior to the court’s clerk announcement.
At the last adjourned date, the judge threatened to discharge the accused person, Anderson Ofosu Hene Amin, if prosecution persists in holding back the case.
Background
The administrator of the Empress leak website was arrested for illegally publishing nude pictures and videos without the express permission of the owners.
The 35-year-old accused person, Anderson Ofosu Hene Amin, popularly known as Mario G, was arrested at his hideout in the Eastern Region.
His arrest follows a report made by a senior high school student on January 6, 2020 to the Cyber Crime Unit that her nude picture was published without her consent.
This was made known at a joint press briefing organised by the Ghana Police Service and the Ministry of Communications.
The Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, explained that the website in question has been noted for publishing child pornographic content for the past six years.
“Available evidence including witness statement showed that the website has been demanding money from unsuspecting victims before their content is pulled down.
“Analysis conducted by the National Cyber Crime Centre has revealed that the website has about 600,000 viewers monthly in Ghana, Nigeria, and the United States.
“On January 6, this year, the computer emergency response team of the cyber security agency received a report which led to his arrest on July 31,” she indicated.
The sector minister noted that the issue of sexual extortion, now known as ‘sextortion’ has become a common practice in the country.
Anderson Ofosu Hene Amin has since been charged with the offence of obscenity, child pornography, extortion of money and money laundering.
The publication of child pornographic content constitutes a criminal offence and perpetrators are liable currently under section 136 of the electronic transaction Act 772, which states that a person who intentionally does any of the following acts:
a. Publishes child pornography through a computer
b. Produces or procures child pornographic for the purpose of its publication through a computer system
c. Possessing child pornography on a computer system or electronic medium commits an offence.
In August, this year, the accused person was granted bail in the sum of GHc300,000 with two sureties with properties registered with either one or both names.
But the accused has not been able to meet his bail condition.
But pending the advice, his charges may increase or decrease. The case continues on January 27, 2021.