A 20-year-old woman, Promise Yayra Asamani, has been arrested for allegedly publishing false and defamatory claims about an Uber driver on Snapchat, raising concerns about the dangers of sharing unverified information online.
The incident began after Selasie Kwaku Anthonio, a 43-year-old Uber driver, reported that a viral Snapchat post had labelled him a “murderer” and a “thief,” citing his photograph and vehicle registration number, AD-1479-25. The post also falsely alleged that he used signal jammers to disconnect passengers’ network connectivity and carried offensive weapons.
According to a police brief, the post caused significant distress to Anthonio, who received numerous calls from family and customers and had his Uber account blocked, depriving him of income and creating safety concerns.
Investigations by the Inspector-General of Police’s Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team revealed that the post originated from Promise Yayra Asamani, who said she acted after hearing her sister’s account of an Uber trip.
Her sister, Stephanie Asamani, claimed she had experienced a verbal altercation during a ride and later shared her experience with Promise.
During questioning, Promise admitted that she posted the information “to create awareness” but had no evidence to support the claims. She has since been granted police enquiry bail while investigations continue.
The police have cautioned the public against sharing unverified claims on social media, emphasizing that spreading false information can have serious legal consequences.
The case serves as a reminder of the potential personal and professional harm that can result from circulating unverified or defamatory content online.
