Because of a clerical error, a South African college student was given close to a million dollars of student aid. She then used it all and went on a shopping spree.
Now, Sibongile Mani has been sentenced to five years in prison for stealing the money from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
On June 1, 2017, $96 was supposed to be put into her bank account for a food allowance. However, almost $1 million was placed in the account.
Mani was found guilty of stealing the money.
“You, and yourself, made the decision…and you did so repeatedly for 73 consecutive days, numerous times per day,” the judge stated in court on Wednesday.
It was documented that Mani used almost $1,000 per day on purses, alcohol, and clothes. This continued until the fund determined an error on August 13. Mani was then reported.
Various students at Walter Sisulu University stated that they had blown the whistle on Mani. This is because they noticed her lifestyle wasn’t the same as before. She had become more glamorous, flaunting her costly weave, iPhone, and a strong liking to expensive whiskey.
She is said to have spent each one of those days at 48 different stores.
The business that had issued out the funds replaced the money after it was stolen. If it hadn’t, 585 people who need the money to fund their education, would’ve been affected.
Mani testified that she didn’t know the ins and outs of her loan agreement. She added that she didn’t intend to take money from students who needed it.
Mani will have to serve one-third of her five year prison sentence before parole is considered.
