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An investigative report led by Hon. Justice Glenna Thompson JSC, along with Justices Monfred Sesay JA and Fatmata Bintu Alhadi JA, has uncovered alarming allegations against Dr. Denis Sandy, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Works, concerning his involvement in a fraudulent divorce certificate.
The inquiry was initiated by the Honourable Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Komba Kamanda, on the 23rd January, 2025.
The report centers on a controversial “Decree Absolute,” which allegedly lists Dr. Sandy as the petitioner for divorce, with his wife, Mary Kai Sandy, named as the respondent and James Bangura as the co-respondent.
The purported document, signed by Deputy Master and Registrar Lansana Kotor Kamara, has been deemed fictitious, lacking any corresponding record in the judiciary’s Cause Book, petition register, or assignment book.
Dr. Sandy faces serious accusations of participating in the fraudulent act, utilizing the false decree to claim a divorce without filing a legal petition, hiring a lawyer, or attending court.
Key aspects of the report highlight Dr. Sandy’s questionable interactions with a man named Magnus Coker, who he alleges facilitated the divorce process without legal proceedings. The committee noted his inconsistent testimony, stating, “Dr. Sandy’s testimony was inconsistent and implausible,” and raised concerns about his failure to verify the divorce process, especially given his status as an educated cabinet minister.
The report further indicated that in December 2024, Dr. Sandy sent a snapshot of the fraudulent divorce decree to his wife via WhatsApp, to which she did not respond. His attempts to verify the authenticity of the document only occurred after inquiries were made by the Master and Registrar, suggesting a potential effort to evade scrutiny.
The investigation also uncovered systemic issues within the judiciary, revealing other instances of fictitious orders and forged signatures, implicating several judicial officers in the scheme.
The committee proposed a range of recommendations, including the expunging of all fraudulent orders, especially Dr. Sandy’s, as well as an independent review of the judiciary to restore public confidence.
Key remarks from the report underscored the seriousness of the situation, with the committee concluding, “The order is fictitious and a fraud. The order should be expunged from the records.” They further noted Dr. Sandy’s “cavalier approach” to the rule of law, highlighting his lack of concern for proper legal processes during his attempt to secure a discreet divorce.
As the implications of the report unfold, Dr. Sandy remains under scrutiny, while the integrity of the Sierra Leonean judiciary is brought into question. The committee has recommended forwarding the findings to the Anti-Corruption Commission for further investigation into the matter.
