Benin: Two brothers sentenced for keeping over a million received by mistake via Mobile Money
Two Beninese workers were sentenced this Tuesday, July 29, 2025, to one year in prison, including six months custodial, for keeping a mobile money transfer of 1,100,000 FCFA received by mistake. Despite the sender’s reminders, the brothers refused to return the sum, resulting in their arrest one year later.
SUMMARY
It is an unusual case that was tried this Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at the Abomey-Calavi court. Two brothers, construction workers, saw their everyday life turn upside down after receiving, via Mobile Money, an amount of 1,100,000 FCFA from a stranger, while they were actually expecting a transfer of 600,000 FCFA from their employer. According to Bip Radio, noticing that an unexpected deposit had been credited to them, they chose not to inform the authorities or the sender.
A pregnancy mentioned, but the justice remains firm
The real owner of the funds, quickly realizing his error, tried to contact them to recover his money. But the recovery attempts were unsuccessful. The two brothers remained silent and refused to return the funds that were not meant for them. A year later, the affair caught up with the concerned parties, now prosecuted for breach of trust.
At the hearing, one of the defendants tried to move the court by mentioning his partner’s advanced pregnancy. A humanitarian argument that was not enough to sway the judge’s decision. Both were sentenced to 12 months in prison, including 6 months custodial, along with a fine of 200,000 FCFA each.
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