Cleaner b***s Ksh4.5M after Ksh13M was accidentally deposited into her bank account

A 52-year-old woman, who lives in Manchester, United Kingdom, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison (suspended for two years) after she pleaded guilty to embezzling £31,000 (Ksh4.5 million) of the £90,000 (Ksh13 million) that she accidentally received in her bank account in October 2019.

Comfort Konadu, who works as a cleaner, had gone to a charity's shop in Openshaw on October 11 last year to get a £9 (Ksh1,300) refund for an item she had bought, Manchester Evening News reports.

While a refund was being made, a mix-up occurred, and instead of £9 (Ksh1,300) being deposited into her account, a transfer of £90,047 (Ksh13 million) was made.

Konadu received the windfall on October 14, three days later. The same day, she transferred out more than £57,000 (Ksh8.2 million) to different accounts including one belonging to her son.

Inquiries showed £57,722 (Ksh8.3 million) was transferred into at least two bank accounts.

The charity managed to quickly get back £40,000 (Ksh5.8 million) of the missing money but some of the cash went through a number of different bank accounts. Eventually, two-thirds of the £90,047 (Ksh13 million) was recovered.

Openshaw store staff member, who okayed the transfer, said there had been an “issue with the machine”.

Now a Proceeds of Crime investigation will take place to see whether the charity can claw back any of its losses.

A judge told Konadu: "You have brought shame on yourself, and I dare say to your family."

Two members of staff were suspended following the investigation, and they were later dismissed.

Prosecuting, Kate Gaskell said the monies lost by the charity represent up to 18 months’ profits for the shop.

At first, Konadu claimed she had been expecting some money into her account. But she later pleaded guilty to theft.

Prosecutors said it would have been “obvious” to her that the money had been sent in error. She didn't inform the bank or the charity about the money, the court heard.

Defending, Max Saffman said that Konadu, also a grandmother of 12, usually lives a “modest and humble” lifestyle working as a cleaner.

He said the money was “more than she could ever have dreamt of”, and that “temptation got the better of her”.

Sentencing, Judge Nicholas Dean QC said a “considerable punishment” in the case was Konadu's loss of her previous good character.

The judge told her: "This was in effect an unexpected windfall into your bank account. You ought at that stage to have reported it to both your bank. You fell prey to temptation and acted dishonestly. You leave this court with a stain on your character."

Konadu was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years.

A Proceeds of Crime hearing will be held in December.