In a landmark ruling, a Zambian court has sentenced 22 Chinese nationals to jail time for their involvement in cybercrimes targeting individuals from various countries. The Magistrates Court in Lusaka handed down sentences ranging from 7 to 11 years, along with fines ranging from $1,500 to $3,000, after the defendants pleaded guilty to charges of internet fraud, identity theft, and illegal network operations.
The arrests were part of a crackdown on a sophisticated internet fraud syndicate that involved a total of 77 individuals, the majority of whom were Zambian nationals. The investigation was launched after a surge in cyber-related fraud cases and reports of individuals losing money from their mobile phones and bank accounts.
Authorities raided a Chinese-run business called Golden Top Support Services in an upscale suburb of Lusaka, where they found over 13,000 local and foreign mobile phone SIM cards, two firearms, and 78 rounds of ammunition. The business had employed young Zambians to engage in deceptive conversations with unsuspecting mobile users across various platforms.
Director-general of the drug enforcement commission, Nason Banda, emphasized the importance of cracking down on cybercrimes to protect individuals from falling victim to online scams. The Zambian nationals involved in the scheme have been released on bail pending further investigation.