Former employee raids English language school's coffers

A German man has admitted to redirecting at least €30,000 in payments due to his former employer and depositing them in his personal account.

Duty Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras heard Inspector Raymond Aquilina explain how the man, who is not being named to protect the identity of his employer, had worked at an English Language School, up till last Monday.

After his termination, however, the company had discovered that some funds which had been due to the company had, in fact, been deposited in the man's personal bank account.

The inspector explained that during his interrogation, the man had confessed to the police that he had misappropriated the money, but there was no agreement on the precise amount which had gone missing, with the employer saying it was in excess of €89,500 and the accused giving a figure closer to €30,000.

The court asked for the amount to be clarified, as the two numbers were vastly different. Lawyer Kathleen Grima, appearing parte civile for the school, said that the amount would probably be more than 30,000 but added that the figures were still subject to verification.

“There were times when the accused received cash payment,” the court was told.

The court upheld Grima's request that a ban on the publication of the name of the school be imposed.

The accused, originally hailing from Hanover in Germany, but residing in ta' Xbiex pleaded guilty to the charges. He told the court that he was currently unemployed.

In spite of his guilty plea, the court refrained from handing down a sentence as it first wanted to hear evidence in order to establish the amounts stolen.

A freezing order was also placed over the man's assets.

Lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace was legal aid to the accused.