Mbare School Owner Sentenced to Community Service for Stealing US$2,335 in Exam Fees

A school owner from Mbare has been sentenced to community service after defrauding four Cambridge Ordinary Level candidates of US$2,335 in examination fees.

Richmore Sairos, 39, who ran a college in the suburb, was convicted of fraud after collecting examination registration money from parents and failing to remit it to the appropriate examination authorities.

Presiding magistrate Nyaradzo Manokore initially sentenced Sairos to 24 months in prison. However, four months were suspended on condition of good behaviour, while 14 months were suspended on the condition that he repays the stolen US$2,335. The remaining six months were set aside on condition that he completes community service, allowing him to avoid jail if he complies with all conditions.

The court heard that Sairos collected examination fees from parents whose children were registered to sit for the June 2022 Cambridge Ordinary Level examinations. Prosecutor Takudzwa Mutyavaviri said one parent, Thompson Tendai Munetsi, paid US$700 for registration in five subjects. Sairos was expected to deposit the money into a nostro account and transfer it to the British Council examination account.

Instead, Sairos used the funds for personal purposes and issued a fake statement of entry to the student. The fraud was discovered when examination dates approached and Sairos falsely claimed there had been an error with the Cambridge examination board.

On 7 June 2022, Sairos also received US$1,312 for the registration of two other learners but again misappropriated the funds. He produced fake payment confirmations purporting to show that the money had been deposited into an NMB Bank account.

Investigations and police reports later confirmed the fraud, leading to his arrest and conviction.

The court ruling underscores efforts to hold education providers accountable while ensuring victims are compensated and offenders face corrective penalties through restitution and community service.