adminRichard Muponde Sunday News Correspondent
A HEADMASTER from Binga’s Lubu Secondary School was last week jailed for 12 months for stealing school funds amounting to $609 which he had been assigned to bank into the school account.
Killian Munkuli’s luck ran out after an audit uncovered his devious act.
Munkuli was convicted on his own plea of guilty to theft of trust property by Binga resident magistrate Mrs Ailenne Munamati. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison of which six months were conditionally suspended for five years.
Munkuli, in mitigation, pleaded with the court to exercise leniency on him, arguing that he had been facing tough times which forced him to commit the offence.
“May the court forgive me for the wrongdoing, I was in a financial crisis and desperation forced me to commit the offence,” pleaded Munkuli.
However, in sentencing him, Mrs Munamati noted that Munkuli’s moral blameworthiness was very high as he was the head of the school who should have been seen protecting the school’s property.
She said a clear message should be sent to would-be like offenders that the courts would not condone people who breach the trust bestowed upon them by stealing trust property.
Mr Bruce Maphosa, for the State, told the court that in January this year Munkuli was given money mostly school fees amounting to $609 so that he banks it into the school account at Agribank.
He left for Binga Centre and on arrival he withdrew the same amount from the school account before making his deposit. After that he went on a drinking spree using the $609 he was supposed to have deposited into the school account.
He went on to tender a receipt to the school purportedly showing that he had indeed deposited the school money.
However, the offence came to light on 21 July after an audit by the School Development Committee revealed the offence, leading to his arrest.
Online Reporter