GIYANI – A senior official in the Department of Education, Edie Mahano (33) of Giyani Township will spend the next three years behind bars. He was found guilty of fraud in the Giyani Regional Court last Friday.

The incident relating to the case took place in the Giyani regional offices for the Department of Education between 1998 and 1999.

The court heard that Mahano was responsible for the appointment of finishing school teachers during that time. He was also entrusted with the processing part of the finishing school teachers' salaries. It was revealed before the court that several teachers had terminated their services during that time.

Although the teachers had terminated their services with the department, Mahano did not stop their salary payments, he instead changed their banking details and channelled their salaries into his own bank account. This resulted in him defrauding the department of R107 000.

It was again revealed that Mahano was quick in appointing replacement teachers in cases where a finishing school educator terminated her/his services with the department. The whole scandal came under the spotlight when the department realised that a large amount of money was being used every month for the payment of teachers whereas there were few teachers at the schools.

It was also revealed before the court that the accused has at some stage appointed ghost teachers. The case was postponed several times in the magistrate's court before it was finally referred to the Regional court. He was not given an option of a fine.