In a remarkable turn of events, a South African student, Sibongile Mani, managed to escape jail time after mistakenly receiving a whopping £850,000 instead of her usual £85 monthly university food grant.
The 32-year-old accounting student, who had been relying on benefits to fund her education, found herself in disbelief when she discovered the staggering amount in her bank account.
Seizing the opportunity, Mani indulged herself in a 73-day spending spree, initially embracing her newfound fortune by spending money on designer clothes, the latest iPhones, and expensive hairstyling.
Bargain beers at the university bar were quickly replaced with bottles of premium scotch from high-end venues, as she immersed herself in a glamorous lifestyle.
However, Mani’s extravagant spending soon attracted unwanted attention.
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The discovery of a supermarket receipt showcasing her balance prompted an investigation, leading to her arrest in 2017 on charges of theft and fraud. Last week, in 2022, she was sentenced to five years in prison after spending approximately £50,000 of the misallocated funds.
Interestingly, Mani defended her actions as she regarded the unexpected money as a “miracle” and a “gift from God” on her personal blog.
Her lawyer, Mr Asanda Pakade, argued that Mani had not actively sought out the erroneous money and posed no threat to society.
Additionally, he highlighted the responsibility of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme for incorrectly transferring a staggering amount without detection.
In a surprising twist, the East London High Court in Makhanda agreed to suspend the five-year prison sentence, provided Mani refrains from engaging in further theft or fraud. Instead, she was assigned 14 weeks of community service and required to undergo counseling.
Astoundingly, the court ruling did not order her to repay the money she had unjustly spent.
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