38-Year Old Driver Jailed for Unlawful Possession of Drugs

Ibrahim Bangura, a 38-year-old driver made his second appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 in Freetown for unlawful possession of drugs.

The accused was arrested on the 25 of January 2023 at Fisheries Kissy Dock-Yard in Freetown.

It was alleged that Bangura was found in possession of 14 tablets of tramadol and 635 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be kush.

Ibrahim Bangura is standing trial before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 on two counts of charges, contravention of recruitment under section 59(1)of the Pharmacy and Drugs Act of 2001 and processing class (A) drug without lawful authority to section 8(a) of the Pharmacy and Drugs Act of 2001.

Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Osman M. Bangura, former witness Detective Police Constable (DPC) 13108 Sallaymatu Kamara who was attached at the Transnational Organized Unit (TOCU) in Hastings, outskirts of Freetown recognized the accused and recalled Monday 30th January 2023.

DPC Kamara stated that she was on duty on the above date at the Hasting Unit when she received a case and injury file from the Regional Headquarters Ross Road Police Station Harbour Division adding that the file contain the accused voluntary caution statement of six hundred and thirty-five (635) words handed over to her by DPC Steven to help with the investigations.

When the police prosecutor ASP Osman M. Bangura attempted to tender the laboratory test report to form part of the court’s records, Defense Counsel A. R. Kargbo objected by citing section 63 (5) of the National Drugs Act of Sierra Leone emphasizing that the said report did not meet the requirement of the aforesaid act.

A bail application was made by Lawyer Kargbo on behalf of his client, stating that his client is a tuberculosis patient and also tendered a medical report signed by a certified doctor Sheku Jabbie.

In his response, ASP Bangura told the court that the defense counsel had not served them with the medical report, buttressing that a subpoena should be served on the HG medical doctor to confirm the same in court on the next adjourned date. Mr. Bangura emphasized that he did not know the author of the said document, which could have been prepared by anyone.

While responding to both defend and accused witnesses, Magistrate Kekura admonished the defense counsel to furnish the bench with the hard copy of the said section against the next adjourned date.

Adding that he had no problem with the face value of the medical report, assuring that as a bencher he was there to hold the balance being that the prosecutor was averse to the bail application.

Magistrate Sahr Kekur denied the accused bail and remanded him at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown and the matter was adjourned to a new date for further hearing.