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Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
tHE Grain Marketing Board’s former human resources systems operator who swindled the parastatal of more than US$45 000 after muzzling the payroll with ghost workers has been ordered to perform 210 hours of community service and pay back the money.
Collen Magadaire (30) of Number 2 Pungwe Gardens, Craneborne in Harare was sentenced to five years in prison on Monday, but Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe suspended one year of the sentence for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.

On the remaining four years, three and half were suspended on condition that he restituted GMB of US$45 838 through the clerk of court on or before May 30.

Furthermore, the remaining six months were suspended on condition that he performed 210 hours of community service.

The complainant in the matter was GMB represented by its salaries administrator Mr Vester Phiri.

It is the States’ case that during the period extending from 2007 to March 2013, Magadaire was employed by GMB as a human resources systems operator.

His duties included payment of salaries for GMB employees in Manicaland, engagement and termination of employees in the Paywell system and printing of payslips for all GMB employees.

During the course of his duties Magadaire would use the password ANNA10 to access the Paywell system.

The court heard that on different occasions, Magadaire would use his password to access the system and went on to misrepresent that certain persons were employed by GMB and allocated them fake employment codes.

Magadaire would enter varying salaries for the said persons at different times which he would then deposit into different bank accounts.

He would then terminate the names of the ghost workers from the Paywell system to avoid the offence being detected.

The offence was discovered in March last year leading to Magadaire’s arrest.