Clerk ‘defrauds’ school of US$70 thousand

AN accounts clerk at Stanley Primary School in Gweru has been arrested for allegedly defrauding the school of US$70 000.

Soneni Muchayabande (46) from Ascot Infill in Gweru appeared before Gweru magistrate Mrs Aelene Munamati on fraud charges. He was granted US$100 bail and will return to court on January 13.

Muchayabande allegedly received various cash amounts for fees and converted the money to her own use. She then lied that the money was deposited into school’s bank accounts and issued various receipts.

Prosecuting, Mr Brendon Ndlovu told the court that Muchayabande said: “The accused misrepresented to Stanley Primary School that US$70 952 had been deposited into the school accounts and went on to author receipts of school fees in the receipt books yet the money had not been deposited into the bank accounts.

“The accused person indicated that the money was deposited into the school account yet no deposit was made. The accused person was positively identified by witnesses who paid fees to her at the school.”