By Sallieu S. Kanu
Sierra Leone – November 25, 2025: The High Court of Sierra Leone has convicted three individuals for corruption offences linked to academic malpractice during the 2019 private West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), Anti-Corruption Commission said in a statement on Tuesday/
Presided over by Honourable Mrs. Justice Fatmata Bintu Alhadi JSC, the court on Friday, November 21, 2025, found Henry Kamara, an agent of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and staff of Holy Family School Quarters in Wellington; Marion Follah Musu Kamara, also a WAEC agent at the same school; and Emmanuel Kobby, an IT engineer of Holy Family School in Calaba Town, guilty of various corruption charges.
Convictions and Sentences
- Henry Kamara was convicted on four counts: one of soliciting an advantage, two of accepting an advantage, and one of conspiracy to commit a corruption offence. He was fined NLe 120,000, payable within three years.
- Marion Follah Musu Kamara was convicted on one count of soliciting an advantage and fined NLe 30,000, payable within one year.
- Emmanuel Kobby was convicted on one count of conspiracy to commit a corruption offence and fined NLe 60,000, payable within two years.
In addition, Henry Kamara and Marion Follah Musu Kamara have been barred from running any educational institution for three years, including the Holy Family Secondary School in Wellington. Emmanuel Kobby has been prohibited from working in any educational establishment for the same period.
Background of the Case
The indictment, dated February 24, 2020, alleged that between January 1 and September 28, 2019, the three solicited sums totaling Le 5,650 from individuals to allow candidates to sit the 2019 private WASSCE at a dwelling house rather than the designated Holy Family Secondary School.
Anti-Corruption Commission Statement
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) welcomed the ruling, describing it as a significant step in tackling academic malpractice and corruption in Sierra Leone.
“The Commission wishes to reassure the general public of its relentless commitment to combating academic malpractices and other forms of corruption at all times,” the ACC said in a statement.