Gareth Manning, Sunday Gleaner Reporter

Several students at the University of Technology (UTech) are now facing a crisis due to a multimillion-dollar fraud that led to the arrest of two students at the institution.

Police investigators say the fraud which has been on going for two years, has resulted in the theft of $1.5 million dollars so far from 15 students who are all now facing deregistration if their fees are not paid in full. The extent of the impact of the fraud could be far more.

According to security sources at UTech, as many as 30 students may have been defrauded by Jason Steba, the president of the peer counselling club on the university campus, who it is alleged, tricked students into believing he was able to offer them financial assistance to pay their tuition.

'Authentic seal'

He and an accomplice, Debbie-Ann Wray, allegedly gave the students documents stamped with what appeared to be an authentic National Commercial Bank seal and assured the students that the money would be lodged to the university's account.

After nearly two years of keeping up the front, it was discovered that no money had been lodged to the university's account on behalf of the students and an investigation began. The police were contacted and Wray and Steba were arrested, charged and released on bail.

The students, many of whom are just three weeks away from their final exams, are now facing a situation of pay up or ship out.

Speaking with The Sunday Gleaner, immediate past president of the students' guild, Carl Wilkinson, said the body has been meeting with the affected students, but it is still awaiting a report from UTech's administration before proceeding with any actions or negotiations.

"I will then have dialogue with the new council to see how best we can assist them (the students), in terms of financial assistance (through) bursaries (or) assisting them in raising funds," Wilkson said.

He noted that the number of affected students appears to be growing rapidly. Initial reports were that there were only 13 students who had been affected but there may have been as many as 40 students who were defrauded, the student leader reported.

"I am still trying to ascertain by way of the report to see how many persons were really affected and how best we can assist them," he assured.

Susceptible targets

"What is unfortunate about the situation is that the most susceptible students were targeted. Those who are genuinely in need," he added.

He said the students with whom he has met were very needy students who were merely exploring the options of financial assistance.

"I think the person who initiated this really targeted them and because of their vulnerability they really fell for the scam."

Wilkinson said while there is still no definitive path the guild plans to pursue on behalf of the students, it was not ruling out negotiating a waiving of the fees by the university.

No response

Attempts to get a response from the UTech's administration were not very successful. But according to Wilkinson, the institution has stepped up its public education, requiring all authorised bodies and persons contracted by the campus to conduct business on its behalf to avoid further scams of this nature.

Public Relations Manager for UTech, Hector Wheeler, said he was not yet updated with the details of the case and could not comment.

"I was advised by an officer about it happening, but I did not get an official report," he said.

However, he suggested it was likely students would be deregistered if the system showed their fees were not paid.

"If they have not paid and everything is not cleared up by now, then the system automatically kicks you out," he explained.