The head of Groombridge Primary School in Harare has been arrested and charged with fraud after he allegedly used his personal receipt book to swindle parents of $2 115 in an alleged environmental club scam.
Akino Stephen Humphrey (59) is alleged to have issued parents with receipts stamped “New Design Hardware and Electricity” instead of the school administration stamp and converted the money to his own use.
He was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare Magistrate Donald Ndirowei yesterday. Humphrey was remanded out of custody to June 11 on $100 bail and will be required to report once every Friday at Commercial Crime Unity and not to interfere with the witnesses, as his bail conditions.
Allegations against Humphrey are that between April and May this year, he told parents that the school required them to donate hoes valued at $15 each towards an environmental club at the school. It is alleged the head then receipted the money in his personal receipt book.
The matter came to light when one of the parents got suspicious and tipped the police leading to Humphrey’s arrest.
The receipt book and the hardware stamp which he allegedly used were recovered in his possession, but the money was not recovered. The trial continues on June 11. Elaine Mokora prosecuted.
