Hon. Justice Johnson presiding at the high court holden in Freetown has sentence one Rugiatu Bangura to five years imprisonment after finding her guilt of possessing 40.0 grams of Kush a dangerous narcotic that continues to fuel sierra Leone growing drugs crisis.

According to the Statement of Offence the defendant is before the court on one count of Unlawful Possession of Drugs contrary to Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act 2008, Act No. 10 of 2008.

The Particulars of Offence stated that the defendant now convict Rugiatu Bangura, on the 25th day of November 2024 at Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, was found in possession of 40.5 grams of Kush without lawful authority.

Counsel representing the defendant now convict made a plead mitigation for and on behalf of the convict that the convict has learnt her lesson and she is remorseful of her action he pleaded with the bench to temper justice with mercy and to give a custodian sentence.

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In his ruling Hon. Justice Andrew S.C. Johnson stated that the court heard that the defendant now convict was found in possession of 40.5 grams of Kush, contrary to Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act, 2008. The prosecution called three witnesses, including the lead investigator, a forensic analyst, and an exhibit clerk, who presented evidence confirming that the substance recovered from the accused, was Kush.

Justice Johnson furthered that the convict made an unsworn statement, denying the allegation, but the court held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and accordingly convicted her.

In sentencing, Justice Johnson considered the quantity of drugs involved, the prevalence of drug-related offences, the need for deterrence, and the minimum sentence prescribed by law. He therefore sentenced the convict to five years imprisonment, with the sentence to include time already spent in custody he stated.

I.A Kamara prosecuted the convict in court.