By Saio Marrah
Principal Magistrate, Mark Ngegba has sentenced 23 year old Alimamy Sesay of 13 B Kissy Brook PWD and 24 year old Kadiatu Kamara of No.8 Kissy Brook to 12 and 8 months in jail respectively for the possession of illegal drugs.
The accused persons, who earlier on Monday 13th February pleaded not guilty before the presiding magistrate after their offences had been read out to them, later changed their plea to guilty following discussions with their lawyer, Kemeh Kamara.
The prosecution alleges that on 24th January this year, police arrested and found 140 wraps of a prohibited drug commonly called “Kush” weighing 20.6 grams in possession of the first accused, Sesay, at Calaba town.
Also, on the same date, the second accused, Kadiatu Kamara, was found in possession of 25 wraps of cannabis sativa weighing 38.9 grams without lawful authority.
After pleading guilty to their various crimes they burst into tears while their lawyer pleaded for mercy. Lawyer Kamara noted that his clients were first time offenders who now fully regret their actions. She specifically pointed out that the second accused was an SSS 3 pupil of the Ahmadiya Muslim Secondary School in Freetown who she said is getting ready for the upcoming West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Ms. Kamara further pleaded that the convicts did not waste the time of the court by admitting to their offence and told the magistrate that the convicts had already learnt their lessons.
The prosecutor of the case is Lawyer Christiana Davies Cole.
Police Constable Mohamed Yusuf Jalloh, attached to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit at Hastings, handed the exhibits to the court.
In the same court Lansana Dumbuya, of 6 M’corkomack Street in Hastings pleaded guilty to a charge of being found in possession of a prohibited drugs called “Kush” and tramadol.
The magistrate did not deliver his judgment on the matter because the exhibits in support of the prosecution’s case were not presented in court.
In another matter, 46 year-old Dumbuya, who did not have a lawyer, was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of “Kush” contrary to the pharmacy and drugs act of 2001 and contravention of requirement under the pharmacy and drugs act of 2001.
The details are that on Tuesday 29th November 2022, the accused was found in possession of three wraps of “Kush” weighing 0.5 grams, at the same address of No. 6 M’ocrkomack Street, Hastings. On the same day and same address, he was also found in possession of a controlled class A drug - four new 225 mg tablets royal tramadol tablets weighing 3.5 grams, without reasonable excuse.
The prosecutor in this matter is Assistant Superintendent of Police, Christiana Davies Cole Esq.
The matter was adjourned to today, Wednesday 15th February this year.
Meanwhile 37 year-old John Koroma of 33 Berwick Street was remanded in custody by Principal Magistrate, Mark Ngegba for unlawful possession of prohibited drugs and substances believed to be used in the manufacturing of narcotic drugs.
According to court records on Monday 30th January this year, at Dundas Street in Freetown, Koroma was found in possession of a prohibited drug commonly known as “Kush” weighing 62 grams in a dispenser’s bags.
On the same day, the accused was found with more substances weighing 9.2 grams, at the same scene.
The lead defence lawyer, Claudius Campbell submitted a plea for bail but the application was rejected by Magistrate Ngegba, who adjourned the case to Monday 20th February this year.
Copyright © 2023 Politico Online (15/02/23)
