GHANA — Ex-convict Michael Tumi has been remanded in police custody over allegations of involvement in a romance scam and acts of sextortion.
Tumi was arrested shortly after completing a sentence at Nsawam Medium Security Prison and is charged alongside three others with sexual extortion, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, and conspiracy related to sexual extortion.
Presiding Judge Susan Eduful did not take a plea from Tumi during the court hearing. Investigations are ongoing, with extensions into Nsawam Prisons, according to Chief Inspector Margaret Ofori Boadi.
Tumi’s co-accused, Ramzy and James Afoakwa, remain at large, while William Ekpe is currently serving a custodial sentence at Nsawam.
The victim, a 37-year-old woman from Accra, reportedly met Ramzy on Facebook in 2022. Ramzy, posing as a Ghanaian military man based in the USA, engaged the woman in video calls without revealing his face, some involving the victim appearing nude.
Approximately a year later, Ramzy demanded GHc4,000 be sent to an individual in Ghana, but the woman blocked him after sensing inconsistencies.
In July 2024, the victim began receiving nude images and videos of herself extracted from private chats, along with threats to publish the content unless she paid GHS2,000 via MTN Mobile Money.
Fearing exposure, the victim complied with the payments, which continued despite further threats until she reported the case to police in October 2024.
Police investigations uncovered that Tumi received some of the extorted money while incarcerated, and that Ekpe and Afoakwa also received funds from the victim.
Authorities revealed the accused are part of a larger romance scam syndicate operating from multiple locations, including Nsawam Prisons, linked to over 50 mobile phone numbers.
The investigation remains active, with court proceedings set for June 24, 2025.
