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Three in court on £5m elite college fraud charges

Lucy Vladev
BBC News
Wales News Service Nadeem standing on the steps of Cardiff Crown court. He has a white beard and grey short hard and rimmed glasses. Wales News Service
Nadeem Sarwar denies nine fraud and theft offences

Three people have appeared in court charged with fraud and other offences in connection with an alleged £5m theft at a leading sixth form in Wales.

Nadeem Sarwar, 48, from Pentwyn, Cardiff, pleaded not guilty to nine fraud and theft offences totalling more than £5m while Yasmin Sarwar, from Cyncoed, Cardiff, pleaded not guilty to all nine charges against her.

Ragu Sivapalan, 39, from Penylan, pleaded not guilty to a charge of false accounting between January 2013 and July 2016.

All three were directors or trustees at the independent Cardiff Sixth Form College. Their trial was set for 1 September 2026 and all three were released on bail.

Google Cardiff Sixth Form College is a red brick building with trees outsideGoogle
GCSE students pay more than £30,000 per year in fees at Cardiff Sixth Form College

Nadeem Sarwar is accused of fraud, three counts of theft, four counts of acquiring criminal property and possessing criminal property.

Yasmin Sarwar is accused of fraud, two counts of theft, two counts of fraudulent trading, acquiring criminal property and three counts of transferring criminal property.

Wales News Service Ragu is standing outside Cardiff crown court. He has short dark hair and a cropped beard. He is wearing a suit and round metal rimmed glassesWales News Service
Ragu Sivapalan pleaded not guilty to a charge of false accounting