Head up for fraud

Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
Glen Norah High 1 School headmaster Edgar Murisa and the School Development Association treasurer Jacob Maposa have appeared in court on allegations of stealing US$2 000. Murisa (52) and Maposa (45) are facing charges of fraud or alternatively criminal abuse of office. Prosecutor Mr Desire Chidanire called the School Development Association (SDA) chairman Kingston Mutambiwa who is the complainant in the matter representing Glen Norah High 1 School as the first witness.

Mutambiwa told the court that he knew the two as the headmaster and treasurer of the school respectively.
“I recall in September last year the two accused withdrew US$5 114 from the school’s CBZ account number 08920810170048 meant for school business funding,” he said.

“The pair connived to convert the money to their personal use under the guise it was a loan advanced to the headmaster approved by the treasurer.

“According to procedure, if anyone wants to obtain a loan from school funds, the SDA convene a meeting, a procedure the pair acted contrary to.”
On April 8, Mr Chidanire will call the school bursar as the next witness. Mr Chidanire alleged that on September 18 last year, US$5 114 was withdrawn from the school’s CBZ bank account meant to fund school business activities.

It is alleged that the pair made a bank transfer payment of US$2 000 when in fact they knew that the cash for the same payment was withdrawn.
A surplus of US$2 227 was outstanding after the payments were made and it is alleged that instead of depositing the money back into the bank account, the pair connived to extend financial assistance of US$2 000 to the headmaster.

The court heard that this was done without following procedure of having the request for financial assistance approved by the school development association.