Three accused over £5m fraud at ‘Britain's brainiest school'
Two men and a woman have appeared in court in connection with a £5 million fraud at a sixth form college which was once dubbed 'Britain's brainiest school'.
The three face a series of charges in connection with suspected financial irregularities at Cardiff Sixth Form College between 2012 and 2016.
Yasmin Anjum Sarwar, 43, from Cyncoed, Cardiff, Nadeem Sarwar, 48, from Pentwyn, Cardiff and Ragu Sivapalan, 39, from Penylan, Cardiff appeared before Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
Both Mr and Mrs Sarwar denied nine separate fraud and theft offences worth more than £5 million.
Sivapalan pleaded not guilty to false accounting between 2013 and 2016.
Magistrate Wayne Mortimer sent the case to Cardiff Crown Court for a pre-trial hearing.
He said: 'The case between the three parties will be adjourned until May 6 at Cardiff Crown Court at 9am in the morning.'
All three were released on bail, with a condition that Mr and Mrs Sarwar must not contact each other.
The college, a fee-paying school for 16 to 18-year-olds, regularly records some of the highest A-level results in the country.
In 2016, it was the subject of the BBC documentary Britain's Brainiest School.
The college has changed ownership since the alleged fraud, with the charity that previously oversaw it now called the Cardiff Educational Endowment Trust, which operates as a grant making charity.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Journalist Shot with Explosive Device While Wearing Press Badge at L.A. Protest Shares His 'Surprise' at Officers' Escalation
British photojournalist Nick Stern was hospitalized after being struck in the leg by a police-fired explosive while covering a protest over ICE raids in Los Angeles on Saturday night, June 7 He was rushed into emergency surgery the following morning, where doctors removed a "flash bang explosive device" In an interview with PEOPLE, Stern says he was photographing a peaceful group of demonstrators waving Mexican flags when the incident occurredPhotojournalist Nick Stern is recovering after being shot with an explosive device by law enforcement while covering a protest in Los Angeles over ICE raids, despite wearing a visible press badge and carrying professional camera equipment. Speaking from his hospital bed at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Stern says he was 'surprised' by what he describes as a sudden escalation by deputies. 'I was photographing people who were just waving Mexican flags,' Stern tells PEOPLE. 'Then I felt this tremendous pain in my left thigh.' He is currently being treated following emergency surgery after the device became deeply embedded in his leg. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. local time on Saturday, June 7, during a protest that erupted in response to reported Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across Southern California. Demonstrators gathered to voice opposition to immigration enforcement, prompting a strong response from law enforcement and escalating into clashes. Stern says he was standing behind a group of peaceful protesters — not hiding, not obstructing — when the shot was fired. 'I always wear my press ID around my neck so it's highly visible,' he says. 'I was carrying a large camera with a video camera attached. I make sure I'm clearly identifiable as media.' 'I was surprised they were firing anything at all,' he adds. 'Where I was standing, there was nothing more than people waving flags. I wasn't aware of anyone throwing projectiles or doing anything aggressive.' According to Stern, it was members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department who opened fire from what he describes as a 'skirmish line' formed behind their vehicles. 'There was no approach. They were just firing from a defensive position behind their cars,' he says. The projectile, later removed during surgery, was a flash bang explosive device in a hard plastic casing. 'It's about three inches long and an inch in diameter, with a rounded nose. It completely buried itself into my leg muscle. It wasn't a surface injury, it was fully embedded," he explains. Stern, who has covered protests around the world, says this isn't the first time he's been injured on the job. During the 2020 George Floyd protests, he was struck by a foam projectile — a bruise that lasted weeks, but didn't cause any permanent damage. 'That was painful, but it didn't break the skin. This one? I needed surgery.' After being hit Saturday. night, Stern says he called for help. A group of nearby protesters rushed over, carried him to the sidewalk, and flagged down a medic. 'They cut off my pants to look at the injury and applied first aid,' he recalls. 'I actually passed out from the pain.' He was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery the next morning to remove the device. Though he's eager to return home to attend his son's graduation, Stern says recovery will take time and effort. He's currently unable to walk and remains hooked up to antibiotics and a wound drainage system. 'The wound is so large they had to attach a vacuum drain to pull out fluid,' he says. 'I'll be sent home with it, connected to my leg 24/7 for at least two weeks.' One of his main concerns now is infection. Because the device was embedded so deeply and left in his body overnight, he's being closely monitored and treated with IV antibiotics. 'Fortunately, my wife is a nurse and a wound care specialist, so she can do a lot of the procedures at home,' he says. 'But right now, I can't even stand. I'm hoping physical therapy today will help determine the next step.' As for how the experience might change the way he approaches his work, Stern tells PEOPLE it's complicated. 'I'd like to say it won't change how I work,' he says while quoting world-renowned photographer Robert Capa. '(He) said, 'If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough.' That's been my philosophy. But being close puts you at risk.' 'Law enforcement in Los Angeles really needs to look at how they treat the media,' he adds. 'There's been clear targeting. Not just now, but going back to 2020. It's disgraceful that nothing has changed.' Still, Stern says the work remains essential even if the risks have become more personal. 'Your safety and health should come first. But if you lead with that, you can't do the job you're out there to do,' he says. 'Documenting what's happening in the U.S. right now is so important; socially, politically, culturally. It needs to be seen. It needs to be recorded. We can't turn away from it.' As he continues to recover, Stern says the incident has left him shaken and with lingering questions. 'I have a possible belief that they do target media, but I have nothing to prove that,' he says. Despite it all, he remains committed to the work and to telling the truth, no matter how dangerous it becomes. A representative for the L.A. Sheriff's Department said in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Monday, June 9: 'The Department is still reviewing video footage of the incident involving United Kingdom reporter Nick Stern, and it is not clear at this time whether our department was involved in this incident. After reviewing the footage involving Australian reporter Lauren Tomasi, it appears that it involved another law enforcement agency and not the Sheriff's Department.' 'We are committed to an open and transparent relationship with members of the media and are committed to ensuring they can perform their duties safely while covering events, including protests, civil disobedience, and public gatherings," the statement continues. "The LA County Sheriff's Department values its relationship with the media and remains firmly committed to transparency, especially during emergencies and critical incidents. We recognize the essential role journalists play in keeping the public accurately informed, and we strive to facilitate media access safely and effectively.' 'LASD prioritizes maintaining access for credentialed members of the press, even in restricted areas when safe to do so. Our goal is to ensure that the media can carry out its responsibilities while we uphold public safety and operational integrity,' the statement reads. 'The LASD does not condone any actions that intentionally target members of the press, and we continuously train our personnel to distinguish and respect the rights of clearly identified journalists in the field. We remain open to working with all media organizations to improve communication, transparency, and safety for all parties during public safety operations.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Missing Bride Arrested After Allegedly Murdering Husband on Honeymoon
Originally appeared on E! Online An Indian bride who went missing on her honeymoon has been arrested on suspicion of plotting to murder the groom. Newlywed Sonam Raghuvanshi was taken into custody by police after surrendering herself June 8, six days after the body of her new husband Raja Raghuvanshi, with whom she disappeared during their honeymoon in northeastern India, was discovered in a gorge with his throat slit. Authorities allege that the 25-year-old and her boyfriend Raj hired a group of men to kill Raja while the newly-married couple was vacationing, prompting the arrest of Sonam and four other individuals. 'The plan was to kill Raja in a distant place,' Indore deputy police commissioner Rajesh Dandotiya told reporters, per Hindustan Times, 'dump his body somewhere where it would not be found and then live happily.' However, Sonam's dad Devi Singh adamantly denies the allegations against his daughter and has accused the local government of 'lying from the beginning' of their investigation. More from E! Online Blake Lively Breaks Silence on Legal Victory Against Justin Baldoni Julie Chrisley Debuts New Blonde Hair After Prison Release Addison Rae Changes Her Name "My daughter is innocent,' he told reporters June 9, per the Indian news outlet The Tribune. 'I have trust in my daughter. She cannot do this. They got married with the consent of both families.' E! News has reached out to a lawyer for Sonam for comment and has not heard back. Sonam and Raja, 30, tied the knot in the Indian city of Indore on May 11, which Raja's brother Vipin Raghuvanshi said was a reflection of their positive arranged marriage. "Their marriage was arranged four months back and they were both happy,' he told reporters, per the BBC June 9. 'There had been no fights between the couple before or after marriage." Four days after the couple embarked on their honeymoon May 20, they went missing, prompting a search effort from police, disaster relief teams and local citizens. Following the discovery of Raja's body June 2 and no sign of Sonam, the pair's families criticized the authorities and petitioned the Prime Minister of India for help. After Sonam's arrest, Raja's brother Vipin initially said he would "not accept' his sister-in-law's 'involvement in the murder until she confessed." However, once he learned that one of the alleged accomplices was known to Sonam, he expressed his faith in authorities' investigation. "I now believe that Meghalaya government was not lying,' he said, per the BBC. 'They were telling the truth." For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
'The Day of The Jackal' author Frederick Forsyth dies aged 86
Prolific British thriller writer Frederick Forsyth, who instantly became a global bestselling author when his book "The Day of the Jackal" was published in 1971, died on Monday aged 86, his literary agents Curtis Brown said. Forsyth famously penned his most famous work about a fictional assassination attempt on French president Charles de Gaulle by right-wing extremists in just 35 days after falling on hard times. "The Jackal" went on to be made into a hit film starring Edward Fox as the assassin. A Netflix remake last year with Eddie Redmayne in the lead role was released last year. "We mourn the passing of one of the world's greatest thriller writers," his agent Jonathan Lloyd said. Forsyth died at home surrounded by his family following a brief illness, according to Curtis Brown. The former journalist and pilot wrote over 25 books including "The Odessa File" (1972) and "The Dogs of War" (1974) and sold over 75 million copies worldwide. Many of his novels were also turned into films. "Only a few weeks ago I sat with him as we watched a new and moving documentary of his life ... and was reminded of an extraordinary life, well lived," said Lloyd. "After serving as one of the youngest ever RAF pilots, he turned to journalism, using his gift for languages in German, French and Russian to become a foreign correspondent in Biafra (in Nigeria)," he said. - 'Spectacular luck' - "Appalled at what he saw and using his experience during a stint as a secret service agent, he wrote his first and perhaps most famous novel, 'The Day Of The Jackal'," he added. A sequel to "The Odessa File", entitled "Revenge Of Odessa", on which he worked with thriller writer Tony Kent, is due to be published in August, his publisher Bill Scott-Kerr said. "His journalistic background brought a rigour and a metronomic efficiency to his working practice and his nose for and understanding of a great story kept his novels both thrillingly contemporary and fresh," Scott-Kerr added. Forsyth attributed much of his success to "luck", recalling how a bullet narrowly missed him while he was covering the bloody Biafra civil war between 1967 and 1970. "I have had the most spectacular luck all through my life," he told The Times last November in an interview. "Right place, right time, right person, right contact, right promotion -- and even just turning my head away when that bullet went past," he said. Asked why he had decided to give up writing -- although he later went back to it -- he told AFP in 2016 he'd "run out of things to say". "I can't just sit at home and do a nice little romance from within my study, I have to go out and check out places like Modagishu, Guinea Bissau, both hellholes in different ways," he said. Forsyth had two sons by his first wife. His second wife, Sandy, died last year. Conservative MP David Davis paid tribute to his friend as a "fabulous wordsmith". He told Sky News that Forsyth "was a great believer in the old values -– he believed in honour and patriotism and courage and directness and straightforwardness, and a big defender of our armed forces". bur-har/jkb/ach
