GLEN Norah High 1 School headmaster Edgar Oliver Murisa, who was facing charges of embezzling $2 000 from the School Development Association (SDA) coffers, was last week acquitted for lack of evidence.
PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI
Murisa (52) was arrested in April this year together with SDA treasurer Jacob Maposa (45) after they were implicated following an internal audit.
The matter was reported to the police by SDA chairman Kingston Mutambiwa.
In dismissing the case, Harare magistrate Rebecca Ushamba ruled that evidence led in court did not incriminate the pair, adding that the charges could have been fabricated because there was bad blood between the school head and some SDA committee members.
“The SDA had a vendetta with the second accused as clearly noted in the evidence produced in court,” Ushamba said.
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“State witnesses’ evidence has been inconsistent and contradictory, making it difficult for the court to concede that the two accused persons had overstepped or acted out of required set procedures within the school’s set standards.
“The court cannot find anything criminal in the premise and conduct of both accused persons.”
The State, led by prosecutor Desire Chidanire, had alleged that the two withdrew $5 114 from the school coffers to pay debts and fund school activities and pocketed a surplus of $2 000.