Nigerian Woman Sentenced to 7 Years in Rigorous Cyber Fraud Case
A court in Amreli town, Gujarat, has delivered a significant verdict in a cyber fraud case, sentencing a 27-year-old Nigerian woman to seven years of rigorous imprisonment. The conviction comes after she was found guilty of duping a man of Rs 14.09 lakh through an elaborate online scam that unfolded over three years.
Details of the Cyber Fraud Operation
The accused, identified as Veronica Andrew Annika Lethabo, also known by aliases including Veronica Ucheoma Andrew and Annika Lethabo, was arrested from Gurugram, Haryana, in May 2024. According to prosecution details, the fraud began when an unknown individual contacted the complainant on social media, enticing him with the promise of a valuable gift.
The victim was subsequently informed that the gift had arrived at Delhi airport and was required to pay various charges for its release. Over time, he was manipulated into transferring a total of Rs 14.09 lakh under multiple pretexts, including payments for income tax, customs duty, and other fabricated fees.
Forged Documents and Electronic Evidence
To convince the victim of the legitimacy of these payments, the accused sent forged documents that purported to be issued by the Indian tax authority. Despite making all requested payments, the complainant never received any gift, leading him to file a formal complaint.
The Amreli cybercrime police station registered the case on July 20, 2023, under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for criminal breach of trust, cheating, and forgery, along with Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act. During the investigation, authorities recovered substantial electronic evidence, including six mobile phones, a laptop, and several SIM cards allegedly used in the commission of the offence.
Police investigations further revealed that the accused had obtained a broadband connection using a fake passport. Although the passport contained forged details, the address mentioned within it proved crucial in helping investigators trace her location. Additional records were secured from banks and technology companies to build the case.
Court Observations and Defence Arguments
The court noted that the defence failed to raise any credible doubt regarding the authenticity of the documents presented by the prosecution. There was no evidence to suggest that the electronic records had been tampered with, strengthening the case against the accused.
A forensic report confirmed email and WhatsApp conversations between the accused and the complainant. The court observed that the accused had initiated communication using a forged identity and executed the fraud using the internet as her primary medium.
The defence argued that the complainant had not transferred money directly into the accused's bank account. Instead, funds were deposited into accounts belonging to individuals named Priya Mandal and Mahadev, with no direct evidence showing that the accused received money from those accounts.
Verdict and Additional Charges
Despite these arguments, Chief Judicial Magistrate S R Vakaliya convicted the accused under IPC Sections 420 for cheating, Sections 467, 468, and 471 related to forgery, and for online fraud under Section 66(D) of the IT Act. The court imposed a sentence of seven years of rigorous imprisonment.
Police investigations uncovered additional violations. The accused had entered India on a 90-day medical visa but overstayed for more than five years. During this period, she allegedly purchased products from India and sold them in South African countries. Amreli police have registered a separate case related to overstaying, in which she is currently facing trial. Authorities also recovered a duplicate South African passport from her possession.
This case highlights the growing sophistication of cyber fraud operations and the importance of robust legal frameworks to combat such crimes. The conviction serves as a warning to those engaging in online financial scams while demonstrating the effectiveness of coordinated investigative efforts involving electronic evidence and international documentation trails.
