Teacher sentenced to 14 years in prison for embezzling desk funds

MANYONI, SINGIDA: Mr John Mtaki, a teacher at Kintinku Secondary School in Manyoni District, Singida Region, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after the court found him guilty of embezzling 3.5m/-that was deposited into his account to manufacture school desks.

Criminal Case No. 14545/2026 was filed on June 26, 2026, in the Manyoni District Court against the teacher.

The accused was facing charges of embezzlement and misappropriation contrary to Section 28(1) of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Act, Chapter 329 (Revised 2023), and theft by a public servant contrary to Section 270 of the Penal Code, Chapter 16 (Revised 2023).

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The prosecutor from the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), Wilson Ntiro, submitted before the Resident Magistrate of Manyoni District Court, George Kapama that on July 20, 2024, the accused was paid the said amount in cash from the Kintinku Secondary School account for the manufacturing of desks for two classrooms.

However, the prosecutor said, the teacher had not fulfilled that responsibility by the time the charges were brought against him.

Sentence in this case was passed on October 29, 2026, in which the Court convicted him to 14 years in prison.

The District Magistrate also ordered that his motorcycle, which was being held by  the anti-graft body, be forfeited, sold, and the funds used to manufacture the school desks.