Freetown, 25th November 2025- Supreme Court Judge, Honourable Justice Fatmatta Bintu Alhadi (JSC), has ruled that Mr. Henry Kamara and Mrs. Marion Follah Musu Kamara be banned from operating the Holy Family Secondary School at Deep Eye Water in Freetown, or any other educational institution, for a period of three years following their conviction on corruption-related offences.

The couple appeared before the Court on five counts of corruption offences, including soliciting and accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 39(1)(b) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 12 of 2008.

The State alleged that between January 1 and September 28, 2019, Henry Kamara, acting as an agent of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), solicited the sum of Le2,000,000 from Olu Williams to allow Williams’ cousin, Simeon, to sit the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at a private dwelling instead of the designated centre at Holy Family School. He was further accused of accepting Le450,000 from the same complainant to grant similar favour to another candidate, Bodkin.

Henry was also jointly charged with Emmanuel Kobby for conspiracy, after allegedly accepting Le1,700,000 from Elizabeth Kamara for the same purpose. Marion Kamara faced a separate charge of soliciting an advantage in favour of Simeon.

All three defendants pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by M. Sow, presented seven witnesses, including an Anti-Corruption Commission investigator, a private WASSCE candidate, a bank official, and a WAEC marshal. The defendants gave sworn testimony but did not call any witnesses.

In her ruling, Justice Alhadi stated: “On the totality of the evidence and the law as applied to the facts, the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. It raised enough evidence for the court to convict the defendants.” She noted that the defence failed to provide convincing arguments to establish innocence.

During mitigation, defence counsel E.T. Enoh pleaded for leniency, stressing that the couple were first-time offenders, had been engaged in education since 2008, and were primary caregivers of four children aged between five and thirteen. He argued that a harsh sentence would negatively impact the community they serve.

Delivering judgment, Justice Alhadi underscored the wider impact of corruption in schools: “The effects of corruption among school authorities are far-reaching, leading to a decline in the quality of education and an erosion of public trust in the education system. This kind of corruption fosters inequality, supports unfair practices, delays development, and undermines trust in public institutions and the rule of law.”

Henry Kamara was fined Le30,000 on each of four counts, amounting to Le120,000, payable within three years. Marion Kamara was fined Le30,000, payable within one year. Emmanuel Kobby was fined Le60,000, payable within two years, and was also banned from working in any educational establishment for three years.