20 Million meticais fraud at ISCTEM: Students forced to cover costs to take exams
An estimated fraud of nearly 20 million meticais has been perpetrated by an employee at the Instituto Superior de Ciências e Tecnologia de Moçambique (ISCTEM). The involved students are being compelled to make repeated payments of their tuition fees to be allowed to take their exams.
The ISCTEM has reported that there was a fraud concerning the payment of tuition fees, involving the then-treasurer of the institution and a group of students. The institution accuses the students of making illicit payments, some of whom have already confessed to the act and have pledged to settle the debts, which in some cases amount to 37,000 meticais.
According to the ISCTEM, the group of students made payments into the personal account of Arsénio Macuca, the former treasurer of the institution, and into the account of his wife, a practice the institute deems illegal and uncommon. The institution is challenging the students to present proof of their tuition fee payments; otherwise, the debts will remain and will have to be paid again.
The ISCTEM assured, this afternoon, the continuation of the academic year for the students who have confessed to the fraud. The institution is conducting exams and requires all students involved in the fraud case to sign a commitment agreement and present a plan for repaying the outstanding debts as a condition for taking their exams.
