The Blantyre Senior Resident Magistrate court has convicted, Edina Saopa, over the offence of Prohibition of Illegal Trade and commerce.

The court through state prosecutor Sub Inspector Justice Manolo learnt that Saopa, a mobile money agent, on 12th May, 2020 connived with Subiri Yusuf Utaka a Murder convict serving a life sentence at Zomba Maximum prison to steal money from Mr. Ian Namboya's bank account.

The two managed to steal the money by deceiving Mr. Namboya that they were TNM personnel who were upgrading bank accounts which are registered on MO 626. Soon after Mr. Namboya revealed his bank account, he noticed several transactions in his account through phone messages and that money amounting to K234, 652.00 was withdrawn. He rushed and reported the matter to Airtel offices in Blantyre where they managed to reverse K131, 272.00.

The police investigations led to the arrest of the convict who admitted to have committed the offence which is contrary to section 92 of Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act (2016).

In mitigation the convict pleaded for leniency as she has two children who will be in dire need of her care for there is no-one she could trust with that responsibility.

However, Senior Resident Magistrate Mwanyongo concurred with the state and observed that the convict knew the consequences of her action and that it is her habit as it is on record that she is wanted by several police stations for similar offences. Thus the court sentenced Saopa to 40 months imprisonment with hard labour to deter would-be offenders.

Edina Saopa 19, hails from Mĺonyeni village, Traditional Authority Mĺonyeni in Mchinji district.