PLN 1 mln school swindle

16th December 2011

An accountant is in court after admitting to scamming nearly PLN 1.3 mln out of a school in the southern town of Busko-Zdroj.

According to news site TVN24, Wanda G. managed to extort large sums of money while working as an accountant for the School of Information and Technology, through social security contributions and staff insurance premiums.

It is also reported that the investigations, which cover a period between 2002-2007, show her to be involved in the forgery of three separate signatures on documents relating to a variety of loans.

Standing before the District Court in Kielce this week for the case’s first hearing, the accused admitted to the allegations, however chose to exercise her right to refuse to answer questions.

Due to the accountant’s decision to remain silent, it is not yet clear where exactly the money has gone.

As punishment, the lady’s lawyer has proposed the court consider a three and a half year prison term and a fine somewhere in the region of PLN 5,000.

In addition to this, Wanda G. would be expected to pay more than PLN 1.8 mln to Busko-Zdroj’s country district and an additional sum of PLN 10,000 to Kielce’s Board of Education.

Sat beside her in the dock was the school’s Director Jozef Z., who is accused of failing to keep the financial books under sufficient supervision. Despite pleading not guilty, it is now possible he may face up to three years behind bars.

With still more hearings to come, it is expected the court will pass its final verdict on the case on December 21.