1 Comment 
High Court Judge, Honourable Justice Andrew S.C. Johnson, has sentenced a 37-year-old South African national, Asandra Denise, to a total of One Hundred and Thirty (130) years’ imprisonment for offences relating to the unlawful possession, transportation, and importation of cocaine.
The convict, a resident of Nenvonds in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, was arraigned before the High Court on a five-count indictment, including Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Drugs, Dealing in Prohibited Drugs, Collecting Prohibited Drugs, Importing Prohibited Drugs, and Transporting Prohibited Drugs. The charges were brought pursuant to Sections 8(a) and 7(b) and (c) of the National Drugs Control Act, 2008 (Act No. 10 of 2008).
According to the particulars of offence, the accused was apprehended at the Freetown International Airport, Lungi, in the North-West Region of Sierra Leone, after being found in possession of Three Hundred and Sixty-Five (365) pellets of cocaine weighing approximately 5.4 kilograms, without lawful authority.
The accused pleaded not guilty to all charges.
During the trial, the Prosecution called three witnesses, including a Forensic Toxicologist, Joseph Lahai, who testified that samples taken from the exhibits—amounting to 10.5 grams—were subjected to laboratory analysis and tested positive for Cocaine Hydrochloride.
Counsel for the Defence, Ibrahim Samba Esq., informed the Court that, following consultation with his client and in the absence of defence witnesses, the accused elected to rely on her statement made to the police.
Closing the Prosecution’s case, I.A. Kamara Esq. applied to tender the ex-officio information under the hand of the learned Attorney General, pursuant to Section 153(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 2024 (Act No. 8 of 2024).
In his judgment, Honourable Justice Johnson held that the Prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt. He described the evidence of the Prosecution witnesses as credible, consistent, and unshaken under cross-examination, noting that the mere denial by the accused was insufficient to rebut the weight of the evidence presented.
“I am satisfied that the Prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt,” Justice Johnson ruled, before finding the accused guilty on all five counts.
The Court imposed the following sentences:
* Count One (Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Drugs): 10 years’ imprisonment
* Count Two (Dealing in Prohibited Drugs): 30 years’ imprisonment
* Count Three (Collecting Prohibited Drugs): 30 years’ imprisonment
* Count Four (Importing Prohibited Drugs): 30 years’ imprisonment
* Count Five (Transporting Prohibited Drugs): 30 years’ imprisonment
The Court, however, ordered that all sentences shall run concurrently, effective from the date of the convict’s remand in custody.
Additionally, Justice Johnson ordered that the cocaine and all related exhibits be forfeited to the State and directed that the narcotic substances be destroyed in the presence of the appropriate authorities.
Does she reside in SL? Because I do not understand why she is bringing the drugs into our poorcountry. The article doesn’t mention where she got the drugs from, but there are more profitable countries she could have gone to to go do her drug dealing. Who us she working for? That is the question. And a 130 years? I am all for a zero tolerance policy, but what sort of nonsense is this. Maada Bio, the president has officially turned our country into a major drug transhipmrnt point, he is involved in drug dealing, he is providing safe refuge for an international drug fugitive, but this judge is now putting on a show. Are murderers and those that sexually assault women abd children getting 130 years?