**Welsh Couple Plead Not Guilty to Multimillion-Pound Fraud Charges Against Cardiff Sixth Form College**
A married couple accused of orchestrating an elaborate multimillion-pound fraud targeting one of the UK’s highest-achieving educational institutions have pleaded not guilty to a series of charges. Nadeem Sarwar, 49, and Yasmin Sarwar, 43, both from Cardiff, appeared before Cardiff Crown Court to reject allegations that they siphoned off over £5 million from the charity funds of Cardiff Sixth Form College—a school repeatedly recognised for its outstanding A-level results.
The Sarwars face an array of accusations including theft, fraud, fraudulent trading, possession of criminal property, and the alleged unlawful transfer of significant sums of money. Court proceedings revealed claims that more than £496,000 was used from the college’s account to purchase and refurbish a property situated in one of Cardiff’s prestigious suburbs. In addition, the couple are said to have transferred hundreds of thousands of pounds into various personal bank accounts and to have been in possession of criminal property relating to approximately £4.1 million in student fees received between 2012 and 2016.
The investigation into Cardiff Sixth Form College—the independent school frequently topping league tables for A-level performance—was jointly conducted by South Wales Police and the Charity Commission. The police noted that the inquiry arose from a pattern of suspicious financial activity within the institution, prompting closer examination by both the charity sector’s regulator and law enforcement.
Yasmin Sarwar, who formerly headed the college’s charitable arm, and her husband Nadeem are both contesting the charges. Ms Sarwar has pleaded not guilty to multiple offences including fraud, two counts of theft, two charges of fraudulent trading, possession of criminal property, and three accusations of transferring criminal property. Her husband, Mr Sarwar, has, for his part, denied allegations of fraud, three counts of theft, and five counts relating to the possession of criminal property.
Also caught up in the web of allegations is Ragu Sivapalan, 40, from Penylan, Cardiff, who stands accused of false accounting over a three-year period from 2013 to 2016. Mr Sivapalan has denied all charges against him, maintaining his innocence as legal proceedings unfold.
During a brief hearing, Judge Tracey Lloyd Clarke set a provisional trial date for 1 September next year. The high-profile nature of the case is likely to keep public attention firmly focused as both the scale of the alleged misappropriation and the reputation of the school hang in the balance.
Yasmin Sarwar’s rise from her early days as a young student in Malaysia to her leadership role at Cardiff Sixth Form College has drawn much attention. She previously described herself as a “mother to the students” and spoke with passion about her devotion to supporting the academic and personal growth of those in her care. After arriving in Britain at 17 to complete her own A-levels, she graduated in biochemistry from Cardiff University and began her career by offering private science tuition.
The success of Cardiff Sixth Form College, which consistently outperformed other elite schools such as Eton, Rugby and Marlborough in A-level league tables, has been widely recognised. Students have travelled from across the globe to attend the institution, drawn by its formidable academic reputation and outstanding track record.
With the allegations now before the court, further details will likely emerge as the trial approaches. Both the Charity Commission and South Wales Police have emphasised the seriousness of such charges when they involve organisations responsible for the welfare and education of young people. The coming trial is expected to scrutinise the college’s financial practices as well as the role of key figures within the institution.
Over the coming months, attention will turn to the legal process, with many in the education sector and wider Welsh community watching closely. Should the allegations be proven, the case could prompt calls for further reform and oversight within the independent schools sector and the charities that support them. As the judicial process progresses, all defendants remain innocent until found otherwise by a court of law.