In March 2022, Thevamanogari Manivel found herself in a perplexing situation when she was arrested at Melbourne airport with a one-way ticket to Malaysia and nearly $11,000 in cash. This incident followed an astonishing turn of events involving a substantial monetary error by Crypto.com.
About a year before Manivel’s arrest, Crypto.com inadvertently transferred over $10 million into her Commonwealth Bank account. This sizable transfer went unnoticed by the cryptocurrency exchange for seven months until an audit revealed the error. The consequences of this mistake would ultimately impact Manivel’s life in unexpected ways.
Manivel’s story began in 2015 when she arrived in Australia from Malaysia, seeking to escape a controlling relationship with her husband. Her dream was to provide a better life for her three children in Australia, so she worked tirelessly, taking on various jobs from motel cleaner to supermarket cashier, and even agricultural work on a cotton farm. She pursued an education at TAFE to earn a certificate in aged care and pathology, all with the goal of achieving financial stability.
However, her life took an unexpected turn in 2020 when she met Jatinder Singh, who had an interest in cryptocurrency. An error during Singh’s attempt to transfer funds from Manivel’s bank account to Crypto.com resulted in a massive $10.47 million deposit into her account. What followed were hasty purchases of houses, vehicles, and international transfers. Despite the money’s eventual return to Crypto.com, Manivel faced legal consequences, with her actions being perceived as motivated by self-interest rather than malice. These events added an element of uncertainty to her visa process, although she now strives for personal growth, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in science.