MARTIN MAWAYA
Gweru – A Stanley Primary School accounts clerk has been arrested for allegedly defrauding the school of US$70,000.
Soneni Muchayabande, 46, from Ascot Infill in Gweru, appeared before Gweru Magistrate Aelene Munamati, facing charges of fraud involving US$70,000.
According to Prosecutor Brendon Ndlovu, Muchayabande deceived and misrepresented to the school that the money she received was deposited into the school accounts; instead, she converted all the cash for her personal use.
“Soneni Muchayabande misrepresented to Stanley Primary School that $70,952 had been deposited directly into the school accounts and went on to author receipts for school fees in the receipt books. However, in reality, the said money had not been deposited into the bank accounts but paid in cash, which she then used for personal expenses,” Ndlovu told the court.
Evidence linking Muchayabande to the alleged crime includes a forensic audit report, witnesses who paid fees, and the available school receipt books, the prosecutor said.
Muchayabande was granted $100 bail, and the matter was remanded to January 13.
She was represented by prominent Gweru lawyer Esau Mandipa.
