Post a comment The High Court of Sierra Leone has sentenced Jelika Conteh to thirty (30) years imprisonment after convicting her for transporting and being in possession of a prohibited drug without lawful authority.
The ruling was delivered today by Honourable Justice Mark Ngegba (J) at the Main Law Courts Building, Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown.
Conteh initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, which contravened Section 7(b) and Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act 2008 (Act No. 10 of 2008).
The prosecution alleged that on 13th May 2025 in Kambia District, Conteh was found transporting and in possession of 80.9 kilograms of cannabis sativa without lawful authorization.
During the trial, the prosecution called two witnesses, including DPC 15063 Musa Manju of the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) at Hastings. In his testimony on 14th May 2025, DPC Manju stated that a file and 89 parcels of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa were handed over to him from the Kambia Police Division. He further explained that chemical analysis and microscopic crystal examinations confirmed the substance as a prohibited drug.
After considering the evidence, Hon. Justice Mark Ngegba ruled that the prosecution had proven the case beyond reasonable doubt, finding Conteh guilty on both counts. She was sentenced to 30 years for transporting a prohibited drug and 7 years for unlawful possession, with the sentences to run concurrently.
The prosecution in the case was led by State Counsel Ahmed J. M. Bockerie, while the defence was represented by Prince Ade Williams and M. Y. Conteh.
