A 32-year-old teacher from Hoho Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Mzimba District has been arrested for swindling Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) examination fees for 11 students learning at Herochima Private School in the district.
Northern region Police Public Relations Officer, Maurice Chapola has identified the suspect as Maxwell Phiri and the money swindled is pegged at K198, 000.
According to Chapola, the candidates are from a private school which has no examination centre and they use Hoho CDSS instead, where they gave the suspect the money since he is an examination officer.
The school officials gave the suspect examination fees for 22 candidates and he is suspected to have only sent examination fees for 11 candidates to the Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb).
The situation came to the limelight after it was noticed that names of the 11 candidates were missing from the Maneb nominal roll.
On his part, Herochima Private School director, Martin Phiri says only 11 candidates have been allowed to sit the examinations and the rest are home, emotionally affected.
The suspect has been charged with theft by public servant which is contrary to section 283 of the penal code.
