Ireen Nyondo faces theft charges after Karonga SIM card swap

Neighbor help turned into a SIM swap, cash vanished, police traced the withdrawal, and a Karonga woman landed in custody.

Arrest over mobile money theft

• Ireen Nyondo, 36, was picked up by Karonga police over missing cash.
• Alleged amount taken totals K145,000.
• Incident ties back to the Mwambuli area.

How the money disappeared

• The victim asked for help checking a phone balance.
• The SIM card went missing after the handset powered off.
• Account held K150,000 before the loss.

Investigation closed the loop

• Detectives checked transaction records with the network provider.
• Cash was withdrawn in town through an agent.
• Description from the agent led to the suspect.

Admission and next steps

• Questioning prompted an admission to taking the SIM.
• Funds were pulled out using the stolen card.
• Court appearance expected for a theft charge under Penal Code Section 278.