Bursar defrauds university of US$189 000

siphoned $189 654 from the university’s Standard Chartered and CBZ bank accounts.
He was forging cash requisitions and purchase orders. Madawo denied the charges when his trial opened in May this year but Bindura regional magistrate Mr William Bhila convicted him because of overwhelming evidence.
The magistrate, however, suspended 10 years of the sentence on condition Madawo does not commit a similar offence for five years. Another 10 years was suspended on condition he repays the university.
He can still go to jail for 19 years if he fails to repay the $189 654.
Prosecutor Mr Munyaradzi Mataranyika, assisted by Mr Nysha Chengeta of the Attorney-General’s office, proved that Madawo, who joined the university in January 2011, stole the money just under a year of employment.
He would prepare fictitious cash requisitions and purchase orders that he used to dupe Assistant Registrar Mr Stenly Chitera, one of the official university signatories.
Mr Dumisani Mthombeni of Venturas and Samkange Legal Practitioners represented the university.
Mr Victor Zvobgo of Ngarava, Moyo and Chikono represented Madawo.
It is alleged Madawo, having obtained the necessary signatures, would proceed to the banks where he would withdraw money, which was never remitted to the university cash office as is the norm.
Mr Velapi Mgugu, a State witness, told the court that any cash withdrawal requisition with either Madawo or the senior bursar and any of the official signatories would be deemed genuine for withdrawal of money from the university bank accounts.
It is the state’ case that Madawo prepared fictitious purchase orders pretending to buy various goods for the university in November 2011, which he misrepresented as genuine vouchers to obtain Assistant Registrar Mr Chitera’s signature.
He proceeded to withdraw money from the institution’s Standard Chartered Bank’s account.
He withdrew US$56 640 using this method and converted it to personal use.
For the second count, in the same month, Madawo prepared more fictitious cash requisitions and ZETSS (Zimbabwe Electronic Transfer and Settlement System) forms in which he misrepresented that the university intended to purchase stationery to the tune of US$50 577.
Having obtained Mr Chitera’s official signature, Madawo proceeded to the Standard Chartered Bank where he withdrew the money and converted it to personal use.
Using the same method, Madawo withdrew US$26 655 from the same bank account on November 30 2011, which he did not remit to the cash office as per requirement.
Madawo continued to withdraw money from the university’s bank account using the same modus operandi.
The matter came to light when Mr Rogders Murehwa, administrative assistant in the bursar’s department, discovered that money transfers and withdrawals effected by Madawo had not been initiated by the university and that the institution had not received goods purported to have been bought for it by Madawo.
Murehwa, who was one of the State witnesses, said on realising the anomaly, he informed the university’s chief security officer, Mr Collin Damison.
In his testimony, Mr Damison said he initiated investigations during which Madawo went AWOL.
An investigative audit team headed by one Mr Mgugu in March this year established that Madawo had defrauded the university US$189 654. Armed with the audit report, a report was made, leading Madawo’s arrest.