Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
A MBARE school owner has been sentenced to perform community service at the Harare Magistrates Court after being found guilty of defrauding four Ordinary Level Cambridge candidates of US$2 335 in examination fees, but will stay out of jail so long as he pays back the money.
Presiding magistrate Nyaradzo Manokore initially sentenced Richmore Sairos (39) to 24 months jail, suspending four months on condition of subsequent good behaviour.
Another 14 months were set aside on condition that he pays back the US$2 335 he stole, while the remaining six months were suspended so long as Sairos performed community service.
The first count involved Thompson Tendai Munetsi, who had enrolled his child at Sairos’ college to study five Ordinary Level subjects and sit for the June 2022 Cambridge examinations.
The registration for the final exams was meant to be done online, requiring a nostro account, where the money had to be deposited before transferring it to the British Council Examination account.
Prosecutor Takudzwa Mutyavaviri showed that in April 2022, Mr Munetsi provided US$700 as registration fees, which Sairos was supposed to deposit into his NMB nostro account and subsequently transfer to the British Council Examination’s Stanbic account. However, the State proved that Sairos had converted the funds to his own use, generating a fake statement of entry for the complainant.
The fraud came to light as the June examination dates approached, when Sairos informed the Mr Munetsi that there had been an error with the Cambridge board regarding his child’s registration. But investigations revealed that Sairos had misappropriated the examination fees, leading to a police report.
On June 7, 2022, Sairos received US$1 312, which he was supposed to deposit into his NMB nostro account and thereafter transfer to the British Council Examination account for two learners. But Mr Mutyavaviri showed that Sairos unlawfully converted the funds for personal use and fraudulently originated confirmation of payment receipts from NMB Bank.
