A Harare woman has been slapped with a five year prison sentence for forging academic certificates, including a ZIMSEC Ordinary Level certificate, to gain admission to a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree program in Ukraine.

The Harare Magistrate’s court sentenced Cindy Mutswatiwa (29) after she pleaded guilty to the charges of forgery and fraud. She will serve 36 months in prison, with the remaining 12 months suspended on condition of good behavior.

Additionally, Mutswatiwa was ordered to perform 420 hours of community service.

The court heard that Mutswatiwa presented three forged subjects on her ordinary level certificate and seven forged passes on a document purportedly authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to appear legitimate.

The forged certificate was intended to meet admission requirements at a Ukrainian university.

Investigations revealed that Mutswatiwa had already advanced to her third year at the Ukrainian university when her fraudulent activities were uncovered.

The three co-accused, Molyn Mugodi (41), who created the fake certificates, Kundai Mutape (39), an education consultant who facilitated the process and Malvern Nengomasha (32), a diplomatic courier, who arranged the authentication process and managed the charges, are also implicated in the wider fraud scheme. The accomplises are facing separate charges.