Woman sentenced for failing to surrender Sh27, 140 sent to her

Photo:Courtesy

A woman was sentenced to six months jail term or in the alternative to pay Sh40,000 fine, for failing to surrender Sh27,140 that had been sent to her via Mpesa.

The court found that Margaret Njeri deliberately declined to refund the money she received from Richard Mbui in Muthatari area, Embu West Sub County.

Mbui sent Njeri the money to pay for fertiliser following reports that she had bought many bags from the local cereals board depot.

However, she switched off the phone, raising Mbui’s suspicion. He reported the matter at Itabua Police Station where detectives traced her through the same mobile phone.

Embu Resident Magistrate Julian Ndengeri ruled that evidence tabled had proved that Njeri stole the money. She was taken to court on December 13, where she pleaded not guilty but the ruling was deferred to Friday to allow more time for investigations about her background.

 From the Sh40,000 fine, Sh27,000 will be handed to Mbui while the rest will be forfeited to the State. Mpesa was launched in 2007 with an initial target of getting between 300,000 and 350,000 customers in the first year but this increased as the service became popular.