A South African student who misappropriated her university food stipend, which normally amounts to £85 per month, and spent £50,000 of it over a 73-day shopping binge, has managed to avoid jail time.
The 32-year-old scholar Sibongile Mani depends on assistance to fund her education. but was shocked when a government assistance program delivered her 10,000 times more money than she needed.
After checking her South African bank account, the released student discovered that she had become an overnight multimillionaire, with 14 million rands added to her account.
The accounting student went on a shopping spree rather of calling government representatives.
She traded in her inexpensive cornrow hairstyle for £200-per-time Peruvian weaves, dumped her old wardrobe for designer clothes, and purchased herself and her friends the newest iPhones, according to Mail Online.
However, her new way of living, which had her wasting a tiny fortune of £666 every day, quickly drew criticism.
Mani came to light after she was reported to the police after leaving a grocery till receipt behind that revealed she had more than £800,000 in her bank account.
After being detained in 2017 and accused of theft and fraud, she was sentenced to five years in jail in 2022 for stealing 818,000 rand, or about £50,000, in 2017.
She described the money as “miracle money” and a “gift from God” on her personal blog after receiving her sentence, saying that she “didn’t think twice” about spending it.
However, Mani’s attorney, Mr. Asanda Pakade, filed an appeal, arguing that Mani posed no threat to the public, had not looked for the money, and was not a suitable choice for an overcrowded jail.
READ ALSO: Nam1 Sues Bridget Otoo For Defamation, Demands 1Million Cedis In Damages