A former kindergarten administrator at Hong Kong’s biggest international school group has been sentenced to 25 months in jail for accepting more than HK$640,000 (US$81,700) in bribes from 13 parents and a middleman to secure places by tampering with the admissions system.
Fatima Rumjahn, 56, earlier admitted to accepting bribes ranging from HK$20,000 to HK$200,000 from parents eager to secure enrolment for their children at the English Schools Foundation’s (ESF) Wu Kai Sha International Kindergarten.
At Monday’s sentencing, Deputy District Judge Amy Chan Wai-mun said Rumjahn’s dishonest actions and abuse of power spanned three academic years and affected students who were originally entitled to enrolment during that period.
“The defendant took advantage of the parents’ wish to provide better education for their children and proactively offered to help them jump the queue,” she said.
Had ESF not noticed her misconduct and reported the case, Rumjahn would not have stopped at merely obtaining money from the parents involved, Chan added.
“Her behaviour completely shows her greed.”
