Shock waves reverberated through Durban’s high school community at the news that Glenwood High School’s former headmaster, Trevor Kershaw, had been arrested for fraud.
|||Durban - Shock waves reverberated through Durban’s high school community on Friday at the news that Glenwood High School’s former headmaster, Trevor Kershaw, had been arrested for fraud.
Kershaw appeared in the Durban Commercial Crime Court on Friday morning for his first appearance, facing a charge of fraud relating to 1 577 payments totalling more than R5 million.
Kerhsaw retired from the well-known Durban school in February, and was given many accolades for his strong leadership during his 16 years at the helm.
At that time he said he wanted to complete a Master’s degree and spend more time with his family.
Kerhsaw was arrested on Fridaday morning and taken to CR Swart police station before arriving in court, where a large media contingent had already gathered.
During the court hearing, state prosecutor Wendy O’Brien said that, with the investigation still under way, further charges might be added.
O’Brien told the court that the authorities were concerned that Kershaw might attempt to flee the country.
She said that, in terms of flight risk, Kershaw holds dual citizenship - British and South African - had resigned from his position at the school, and his house was up for sale.
She also highlighted media reports in which Kershaw indicated he was going to look for jobs in either Dubai or the UK.
“There is a prima facie case against the accused to be arrested and charged in this matter,” said O’Brien.
The charge sheet reads: “In that on or between January 2007 and December 2012, and at or near Glenwood High School, Durban, the accused did unlawfully and with intent to defraud, misrepresent to Glenwood High School and/or the employees of Glenwood High School that he was entitled to be paid the amount of R5 054 280 in respect of valid claims to which he was entitled as either part of his renumeration package or as reimbursement for school expenses incurred by him, and did thus induce Glenwood High School to pay him a total of 1 577 payments to the value of R5 054 280.”
She also said the school intended to recover the monies from Kershaw, and described the offence he was charged with as a “very serious” and carrying a possible 15-year sentence.
O’Brien also requested strict bail conditions, which were agreed to by defence lawyer, Carl van der Merwe, who highlighted his client had no previous convictions and had emotional ties in the community.
Bail was set at R100’000. The conditions set down include that Kershaw must report to Westville police station twice a week; both his passports must be surrendered to authorities; he is not to communicate with witnesses, including school employees and governing body members; and he is not to enter the premises of the school.
He cannot apply for any travel documents and, if he wishes to leave the province or change residence, he must do so with the permission of the investigating officer.
Last night, Glenwood High School issued a statement via their lawyers, Venns Attorneys.
It stated that, after Kershaw had indicated last year his intention to leave Glenwood High School to pursue other interests, and after he had tendered his resignation to the KZN Department of Education, “an unrelated snap audit uncovered the possibility that the headmaster may have been involved in some financial irregularities”.
“The headmaster has denied any wrongdoing and, in the interests of the preservation of the school funds, the governing body resolved to engage the services of external auditors to carry out a forensic investigation to establish the true position.”
The statement further read that the major portion of the investigation was “completed only this week and, having ascertained that some transactions may have been questionable, and acting on the advice of the auditors, the governing body had authorised the auditors to present their findings to the appropriate authorities”.
Kershaw is due to appear again on June 21.
Independent on Saturday