BY Issah Olegor
A young teacher’s desperate attempt to coerce his colleague into a sexual relationship has ended in a heavy jail sentence, highlighting growing concerns about digital blackmail and abuse of trust within schools.
The Odumase-Krobo Circuit Court has sentenced 27-year-old teacher Smart Kumi to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour after finding him guilty of sexually extorting his colleague, Bernadette Dzigbordi Agbeko, a teacher at Modern Preparatory School.
From Friendship to Exploitation
Court records revealed that Kumi and Dzigbordi were casual friends and colleagues at the school.
At one point, Kumi expressed his desire for a romantic relationship, but Bernadette rejected his proposal, insisting that their friendship remain strictly professional.
Prosecutors explained that Kumi was not satisfied with her decision. Instead, he resorted to manipulation.
While the two maintained their casual friendship, Bernadette occasionally used Kumi’s iPhone to take personal photographs, not suspecting that he was secretly storing them.
Blackmail and Threats
The situation escalated when Kumi began sending the private pictures back to Bernadette, demanding sexual favours in return.
He threatened to circulate the images on social media platforms if she failed to yield to his demands.
Rather than succumbing to the blackmail, Bernadette reported the matter to the police, leading to Kumi’s arrest.
The Court’s Decision
During the trial, prosecutors described Kumi’s actions as a clear case of sextortion, a crime that has been on the rise in Ghana, particularly with the misuse of mobile devices and social media.
The court found him guilty and handed him a 10-year prison sentence with hard labour, sending a strong warning to individuals who engage in blackmail for sexual exploitation.
