Cybercrime: Zambian court jails 22 Chinese, Cameroonian

Cybercrime: Zambian court jails 22 Chinese, Cameroonian

Lusaka, Zambia – A Zambian court on Friday sentenced 22 Chinese nationals to prison terms ranging from 7 to 11 years for their involvement in cybercrimes, including internet fraud and online scams that targeted individuals in Zambia, Singapore, Peru, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Magistrates Court in Lusaka also imposed fines ranging between $1,500 to $3,000 on the convicts after they pleaded guilty to charges of computer-related misrepresentation, identity fraud, and illegally operating a network or service. A Cameroonian national was similarly sentenced and fined for the same charges.

These sentences follow the arrest of a group of 77 individuals, predominantly Zambians, in April, which was described by police as a crackdown on a “sophisticated internet fraud syndicate.”

Cybersecurity analyst Ali Kingston Mwila highlighted the significance of the court’s decision, noting, “In the past, we have seen criminals walking away freely after committing such or similar crimes.”

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Director-General of the Drug Enforcement Commission, Nason Banda, explained that the investigation began following a noticeable increase in cyber-related fraud cases, with many people reporting unexplained losses of money from their mobile phones or bank accounts.

In April, authorities from the Drug Enforcement Commission, police, immigration department, and anti-terrorism unit raided a Chinese-run business named Golden Top Support Services in an affluent Lusaka suburb. The raid resulted in the arrest of the 77 individuals, including those sentenced on Friday. During the operation, authorities recovered over 13,000 local and foreign mobile phone SIM cards, two firearms, and 78 rounds of ammunition.

The business had employed young Zambians, aged between 20 and 25, to use the SIM cards to engage in deceptive conversations with unsuspecting mobile users across various platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and chat rooms, using scripted dialogues, according to Banda.

While the locals involved were released on bail, questions remain regarding the full extent of the crimes. Mwila emphasized that key details, such as the total amount of money stolen and the use of the recovered firearms and ammunition, have not been disclosed.

“Looking at the crime as it stands, we have not been told how much they have stolen, we have not been told as well those guns and ammunition they had, how they have been used,” Mwila added, calling for further transparency and investigation into the case.

Cybercrime: Zambian court jails 22 Chinese, Cameroonian