Partner Forged Will and Fake Marriage in Bid to Steal £500,000 Estate
A London man has been exposed in court for attempting to fraudulently claim his deceased partner's £500,000 estate by forging her will and fabricating a marriage certificate. The High Court heard how Cengiz Arif, described as having an "abusive and toxic" relationship with the victim, tried to divert inheritance meant for their 16-year-old daughter.
The Tragic Circumstances
Kassy Sinar, a 46-year-old mother-of-one and cleaning company boss originally from Manchester, died from breast cancer in October 2023. Before her death, she had executed a legitimate will in 2022 that placed her entire estate in trust for the benefit of her daughter Jocey. The estate included properties in London's Finsbury Park and Burnley, Lancashire, with an estimated value exceeding £500,000.
Ms Sinar had confided in friends about refusing Mr Arif's marriage proposals and described their on-off relationship as "abusive and toxic." The couple had separated between 2011 and 2018 before briefly reuniting prior to her cancer diagnosis. In her final weeks, Mr Arif abandoned her on her deathbed to spend two weeks in Cyprus.
The Fraudulent Scheme
Following Ms Sinar's death, Mr Arif produced what he claimed was her true last will, dated May 2023, which left everything to him instead of their daughter. He also presented a marriage certificate alleging they had secretly wed in Cyprus in 2006—a claim never made during Ms Sinar's lifetime.
The court heard how Mr Arif had already begun pocketing rental income from the Finsbury Park property and had banned Ms Sinar's family members from attending her funeral in London. Her brother Ernest Sinar, who along with his wife Michelle is now Jocey's legal guardian, initiated legal proceedings on the family's behalf.
Court Findings of Forgery
Chief Master Karen Shuman of the High Court delivered a damning verdict, declaring both the marriage certificate and 2023 will as "forged" documents. The judge noted that Turkish authorities confirmed no wedding had occurred on the claimed date, and the registrar named by Mr Arif wasn't even working at that time.
"I'm satisfied on the evidence that I have heard that this was an unhappy, toxic and abusive relationship," stated Judge Shuman. "There is evidence of physical and emotional abuse. She was never married to Cengiz, therefore he has adduced to the court a forged document."
Regarding the disputed wills, the judge upheld the validity of the 2022 document while dismissing the 2023 version as fraudulent. A handwriting expert testified that the signature on the 2023 will showed clear signs of being copied rather than genuine.
Legal Consequences and Costs
The court ordered Mr Arif to pay approximately £206,000 in legal costs incurred by Ernest Sinar during the proceedings, with an upfront payment of £120,000 required immediately. Mr Arif, who failed to appear in court to defend himself, was stripped of his roles as executor of the 2022 will and trustee of his daughter's trust fund.
Judge Shuman issued an injunction prohibiting Mr Arif from dealing with or dissipating any assets from Ms Sinar's estate, expressing "deep concern" that he might attempt to remove estate assets given the level of fraud demonstrated. The judge also ordered disclosure of rent payment details to Ernest's legal team.
"This is an estate that Kassy wanted to go to her daughter not her sometime partner and the father of her child," emphasized Judge Shuman in her ruling.
Family's Response
Verity Hudson of Rothley Law, representing Ernest Sinar, commented after the case: "This was a complex and emotional case that required careful investigation. Having worked closely with the family since 2023, we're so pleased to have helped secure the right outcome for them."
The ruling ensures that Ms Sinar's wishes are honored, with her entire estate now properly secured in trust for her daughter's future, protected from the fraudulent claims of her former partner.
