Blantyre woman convicted for spreading fake news against FDH Bank on WhatsApp
A Blantyre-based woman, Mercy Gondwe, 43, has been convicted and fined for spreading fake news about FDH Bank using the Electronic Communication and Cyber Security law.
FDH Bank public relations officer Lorraine Lusinje: This serves as a lesson to people who post things on social media without verifying them with concerned people
Gondwe was arrested last week after she authored a message and posted it on a WhatsApp group alleging that FDH Bank was collecting National IDs and passing them on to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
But the Blantyre Magistrate Court on Wednesday convicted Gondwe and slapped her with a K500,000 fine and 18 months imprisonment. However, the sentence has been suspended to 18 months.
Gondwe spent some days in a Police cell in Blantyre.
The convict has also been ordered to retract the malicious message she circulated. She will be writing through the same WhatsApp group ‘Citizen for Transformation’ and the message will clearly indicate that what she circulated was false and unfounded.
Gondwe has been ordered to do this once a week for three weeks starting next week and the screen shot of the retracting message will be sent to the investigator and prosecutor as a way of monitoring that she is complying with the court order.
According to the charge sheet seen by Nyasa Times, Gondwe was charged with prohibition of Cyber stalking contrary to Section 88 of the Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act.
“Mercy Gondwe on (or about) 2nd April 2020 in the Republic of Malawi willfully used Electronic Communication namely a cell phone to harass FDH Bank and made a threat by sending a message to a WhatsApp group called ‘ Citizens for Transmission’ that reads ‘FDH Bank is getting customers ID information (KYC) and giving DPP. Please forward to the groups!’ with intend to instill fear in FDH Bank,” reads particulars of the charge signed by Police Prosecutor Superintendent Mwayiulipo.
Reacting to the verdict, FDH Bank public relations officer Lorraine Lusinje said the Bank has welcomed the sentence and hoped that people will now be responsible on what they post on social media.
“We indeed lodged a formal complaint to the police recently under the Cyber Security Act following defamatory and malicious content that was circulated on social media. We are happy that the case has been concluded and we hope this serves as a lesson to people who post things on social media without verifying them with concerned people.”
“FDH Bank’s priority is to serve its customers diligently and effectively and will take action when matters arise that compromise this. FDH Bank has been a victim of malicious content and this first conviction has emboldened the Bank to vigorously pursue any fake news,” said Lusinje.
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Maybe this lady was not lying. She can’t just create a story like that.
The convict looks so ugly and I believe she has an ugly heart. She was sent by Mtambo and now she has damaged her reputation
Tione nkhope yanuo….
Taziwabe , there is no smoke without fire ,I don’t trust this bank.This bank is being used to carry dirty activities for DPP.Why Thom Mpinganjira case is no where to be seen in our courts.What kind of justice is that? The rich are spared from justice only the poor Malawians faces the music.And up to now we don’t know the second person on judges bribe case.Dpp ntchito zamanja awo zikuwachitira umboni ndithu, visionless leaders.
She was not lying but she has been just the victim. Nankhumwa lied about CCTV on JB why up to now he is not arrested for defamation on JB?
Thom Mpinganjira bribe case is idle no progress .
she just had to be from the north kkkkkkkk
Idiot, don’t you know that women carry someone name? Does crime looks at tribe? How many criminals are in prisons from all regions? Which class did u attend? Shame
But the idiot has a face of a gondwe. look closely
He’s really dumb
My question is how were they able to get a speedy trial when there are cases that have been sitting for years?
Share with us your secret of being able to get a case tried so fast.
Malawi must protect its asset. FDH is one of Malawi prime asset and one must not joke with it. The court is right to have move expeditiously on this matter
Koma milandu ikanamayenda mwachangu choncho pano ndende zitapepukidwa.
Kodi mulandu we a Mpinganjira you pati.
Nanga cctv anaiona Anankhumwa ya JB sinafikebe , nao ananama , akukondela basi.
So the lady was arrested last week and this week Her case already concluded…..wow, that’s amazing.
It looks like the wheels of justice moves at supersonic speed for the weak and the poor.
By the way when will judges’s bribery case be brought before the courts.
milandu ndi cigamulo cosaonela under which section yoti ukangogwidwa ,this profle comes out
name
surname
age
marital sratus
village
distict
next of kin.
and
verdict at the end of the and mostly with hard labout kuti ena atengereko citsazo.
52 weeks for stealing a bike
Surely it would have been good to put picture of Mercy than someone else. I first thought the picture is of Mercy as well.