After the adjournment on August 1, on Monday, August 5, 2024, the 5th Section of the Maputo City Court held a session to take evidence as part of Precautionary Proceeding number 40/24- U, brought by a group of students from the Higher Institute of Science and Technology of Mozambique (ISCTEM) against the management of that institution.

At the hearing, crucial issues were discussed relating to the ISCTEM management's preventing students from taking exams and registering, on the grounds that they were in debt.

The hearing began at 12 noon and lasted until 3pm, with both sides presenting substantial evidence to support their positions. It is now up to the court to issue the final verdict on the dispute, and under the law it has up to 30 days to do so.

The injunction was issued following the discovery of alleged fraud, allegedly perpetrated by ISCTEM's Treasurer, Arsénio Damaso Manuel. According to the institution, Manuel had misappropriated payments made by students, in collusion with some of them.

Even though receipts were issued indicating that the payments had been settled, the students are currently prevented from enrolling and continue to be charged for debts they don't know about.

Arsénio Damaso Manuel declared all the assets allegedly acquired with the proceeds of the fraud and handed them over to ISCTEM. However, the institution continues to demand payment of the students' debts, creating a situation of injustice. The young students are desperate. The amount embezzled by Manuel is estimated at around 19,000,000.00 meticais (nineteen million meticais).

Curiously, although the accounts were audited, the fraud was never detected, raising the suspicion that the institution might have been aware of it. (CDD)