Court convicts teacher for exam fees non-remittance

Dowa Magistrate’s Court on Monday convicted a teacher for misappropriating K66 500 for Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSCLE) examination fees at Manondo Primary School in the district.

The conviction means that the teacher, Obed Kasamba, has lost his job in the civil service in line with the Malawi Public Service Regulations.

State prosecutor Sergeant Joseph Banda told the court that the accused was tasked to help parents to pay examination fees to Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb) through Airtel Money and TNM Mpamba mobile money platforms.

Banda further told the court that Kasamba did not remit examination fees for 19 candidates instead he used the money for personal gain.

The accused pleaded guilty to all 19 counts of obtaining money by false pretence.

In mitigation, he pleaded with the court for leniency, saying he is a first offender.

However, the State asked the court to give him a stiffer punishment, saying his action affected the future of the candidates failed to sit for their examinations.

Banda said the candidates were also affected physiologically by Kasamba’s act.

In his sentence, first grade magistrate Robert Botha handed Kasamba an 18 months suspended sentence and ordered him to refund the candidates.

The convict comes from Mgubo Village in Traditional Authority Mkukula in Dowa District