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Prosper Dembedza

Herald Correspondent

A Lomagundi College Trust bursar in Chinhoyi has appeared in court on allegations of stealing US$236 000 from her employer.

Carmalita Hinzi, age not supplied, was facing 243 counts of theft when she appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa yesterday and was remanded custody to October 2.

It is the State’s case that Hinzi’s duties included receipting cash, bank reconciliation, invoicing, debt collection, debt agreement and receiving payments from parents on daily basis.

She was required to hand over the money to the senior bursar, since she was an assistant.

The court heard that Hinzi received amounts of money from parents as payments for school fees, which she was supposed to post in the school relevant system and bank the money with the school’s senior bursar.

It is alleged that Hinzi unlawfully and with intent to steal, did not bank all the amounts with the school bursar, but converted it to her own use.

It is alleged that sometime in January 2023, the school carried out a verification process after inviting parents and discovered that Hinzi did not bank the money she had received from parents.

The school conducted a forensic audit through Mariahill Chartered Accountants and established that Hinzi committed 243 counts of theft.

The total value stolen is US$236 964.85, $59 810, R24 700 and nothing was recovered.