Story By: Lee Bullen,Sub Editor: Joseph Golder,Agency: Central European News 

A young man who was wrongly sent 380 GBP to his account and was arrested after spending the cash has claimed he thought the funds were “miraculously” forwarded to him by God.

The incident took place in the city of Ndola in the central Zambian province of Copperbelt after 22-year-old Edward Manda received 6,800 ZMW (378 GBP) in his MTN Mobile Money account last month.

He explained: “Two days before the incident during a Sunday church service, the pastor told the congregation that we will receive ‘miracle money’ soon.”

When Manda received the unexpected funds in his account, he presumed it was the money promised by his local pastor and decided to keep it despite receiving a call from the owner informing him that he had sent it to the wrong account and to return it.

The owner contacted the local authorities while Manda withdrew the cash, threw away his MTN sim card and spent 80 percent of the funds, according to local media.

He told the police that he used the cash to buy a new phone, clothes, food shopping and to pay off his student loan.

By the time he was arrested, Manda only had 450 ZMW (25 GBP) leftover.

He is still in police custody as no relatives are willing to help him because he used the money without consulting them, according to reports.

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