Jan Mohr teacher arrested for fraud
A male teacher from Jan Mohr Secondary School in Windhoek was arrested yesterday for allegedly defrauding more than 20 parents of school registration and hostel accommodation fees.
It is unclear at this point how much exactly the suspect collected from this scam, but while the figures vary, some parents claimed to have paid up to N$5 500. Because the parents received receipts, they had no reason to suspect the teacher, they said.
Staff at the school confirmed the arrest but declined to give further details and instead referred queries to the education ministry, which - they insisted - has the mandate to share details on the matter.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) spokesperson Josephine Nghituwamata also confirmed the incident, but said the suspect was yet to be officially charged.
“Please take note that the ACC did receive a complaint regarding alleged corruption against a worker at Jan Mohr Secondary School, stating the misuse of position of this specific employee. Although the suspect in the case has been arrested today [Wednesday], I am not able to share further details until he or she has been formally charged and has appeared in court,” she said.
“Also, the investigation is still ongoing in this relatively new case. The investigation is yet to reveal the exact amount; however, the whistle-blower spoke of registration and hostel fees.”
From pillar to post
The school and the ministry, however, remained reluctant to share information and sent Namibian Sun from pillar to post yesterday.
According to Jan Mohr’s Jennifer Coerecius, principal Lukas Hashiti has directed all questions to the ministry’s public relations officer Sem Shino, who "has all the information".
Shino, on his part, said he knew nothing about the matter and referred questions to regional education director Paulus Nghikembua, who himself was in the dark about the situation.
“I don’t have the full details. I was only called by the principal who told me something happened and they would send me a full report. I am still waiting for the report,” he said.
Edda Bohn, the deputy executive director in the ministry, confirmed the matter, but said it was too early to comment.
“Yes, we are aware of the incident, which is now under investigation. It is premature for me to comment,” she said.
Scam victims
Meanwhile, a parent - who spoke on condition of anonymity - said they are aware of at least 29 others who fell victim to the scam, adding that they were told to pay between N$2 000 and N$5 500 to secure placement for their children at the school and its hostel.
“When we went to the school, we were told that we were not the first ones to come with this story. He told us that we must give him the money and he will do all the admin for us and we can just come in the new year with our children.
“We had no reason to suspect any foul play because the person is a teacher at the school and not a middleman or anything.
“Now our children are sitting without a place in school,” she said.
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It is unclear at this point how much exactly the suspect collected from this scam, but while the figures vary, some parents claimed to have paid up to N$5 500. Because the parents received receipts, they had no reason to suspect the teacher, they said.
Staff at the school confirmed the arrest but declined to give further details and instead referred queries to the education ministry, which - they insisted - has the mandate to share details on the matter.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) spokesperson Josephine Nghituwamata also confirmed the incident, but said the suspect was yet to be officially charged.
“Please take note that the ACC did receive a complaint regarding alleged corruption against a worker at Jan Mohr Secondary School, stating the misuse of position of this specific employee. Although the suspect in the case has been arrested today [Wednesday], I am not able to share further details until he or she has been formally charged and has appeared in court,” she said.
“Also, the investigation is still ongoing in this relatively new case. The investigation is yet to reveal the exact amount; however, the whistle-blower spoke of registration and hostel fees.”
From pillar to post
The school and the ministry, however, remained reluctant to share information and sent Namibian Sun from pillar to post yesterday.
According to Jan Mohr’s Jennifer Coerecius, principal Lukas Hashiti has directed all questions to the ministry’s public relations officer Sem Shino, who "has all the information".
Shino, on his part, said he knew nothing about the matter and referred questions to regional education director Paulus Nghikembua, who himself was in the dark about the situation.
“I don’t have the full details. I was only called by the principal who told me something happened and they would send me a full report. I am still waiting for the report,” he said.
Edda Bohn, the deputy executive director in the ministry, confirmed the matter, but said it was too early to comment.
“Yes, we are aware of the incident, which is now under investigation. It is premature for me to comment,” she said.
Scam victims
Meanwhile, a parent - who spoke on condition of anonymity - said they are aware of at least 29 others who fell victim to the scam, adding that they were told to pay between N$2 000 and N$5 500 to secure placement for their children at the school and its hostel.
“When we went to the school, we were told that we were not the first ones to come with this story. He told us that we must give him the money and he will do all the admin for us and we can just come in the new year with our children.
“We had no reason to suspect any foul play because the person is a teacher at the school and not a middleman or anything.
“Now our children are sitting without a place in school,” she said.
[email protected]
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