By By no means Lomo
Monrovia-October 20, 2025: The Monrovia Magisterial Court docket has discovered Augustine S. Saysay, a former Examination Officer of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), responsible of felony conspiracy, misapplication of entrusted property, theft of property, and aiding the consummation of against the law in reference to the 2024 WASSCE Arithmetic examination leak.
In a landmark ruling handed down by Affiliate Justice of the Peace Lasane Kamara, Defendant Saysay was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment on the Monrovia Central Jail. It imposed a tremendous of US$1,000, citing grave violations of public belief and nationwide examination protocols.
The case stems from the alleged compromise of the 2024 WASSCE Arithmetic papers, which had been scheduled to be administered in Tapita, Nimba County, on Could 30, 2024. Following suspicions of a leak, WAEC initiated an investigation which revealed that the safety bag entrusted to Saysay was discovered unsealed and lacking two bundles of examination booklets.
WAEC, by a joint investigation with the Liberia Nationwide Police (LNP), traced monetary transactions and textual content message communications between Saysay and three co-defendants: Amos Bowah, Hamid Alhanssan Bangura, and Lewis A. A. Leeco. The proof urged that the stolen examination papers had been offered or distributed, giving sure college students an unfair benefit.
Though the opposite co-defendants await trial, Saysay had requested and was granted a severance of trial, resulting in his particular person prosecution.
Three witnesses testified for the prosecution, together with Mrs. Wynna George-Soper, Performing Head of the Check Division at WAEC, who detailed the strict protocols that Saysay had violated and confirmed the lacking supplies. She additionally cited a confession made by the Defendant earlier than police involvement, throughout which he begged for forgiveness.
One other key witness, LNP Investigator Dennis N. Weah, confirmed the cell cash transfers amounting to L$100,000 from co-defendants and authenticated statements obtained throughout interrogation.
On the protection facet, Saysay took the stand to disclaim all costs, citing an 18-year unblemished document with WAEC and alleging he was coerced by police. Nevertheless, the courtroom discovered these claims unsubstantiated, noting that no medical report or proof of abuse was offered. His brother, a protection witness, admitted he didn’t witness any police misconduct immediately.
In delivering the ruling, Justice of the Peace Kamara declared that the Prosecution had confirmed its case past an affordable doubt. He condemned the defendant’s actions as a betrayal of public belief, particularly inside a fragile academic system.
“Belief was damaged in Tapita, and the person appointed to safeguard the nation’s exams selected private achieve over responsibility,” the Justice of the Peace said. “This quantities to a betrayal of the nation’s academic system and the way forward for our kids.”
The Court docket concluded that Saysay’s actions met the authorized threshold for Theft of Property (Part 15.51), Misapplication of Entrusted Property (15.56), Felony Conspiracy (10.4), and Aiding Consummation of Crime (12.5), all beneath Liberia’s New Penal Code.
The Court docket ordered that Defendant Augustine S. Saysay be instantly remanded to the Monrovia Central Jail to start serving his 12-month sentence, with the tremendous to be paid in accordance with Chapter 50 of the Penal Regulation (2012 modification). The Sheriff of the Court docket was instructed to implement the ruling directly.
The courtroom’s resolution sends a powerful message amid rising considerations over examination malpractice in Liberia. It echoes earlier warnings by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who described Liberia’s schooling system as a “mess.”
Observers say this ruling may function a turning level for restoring public confidence in standardized examinations and holding these entrusted with nationwide obligations accountable.
