Former police officer William Sawyerr has been remanded in custody on charges of alleged possession of Kush

He appeared before Magistrate Mark Negba of Court No. 1 on Pademba Road in Freetown and was subsequently remanded to the Male Correctional Centre, also located on Pademba Road in Freetown.

He is currently facing trial on a charge of unlawful possession of Kush, as stipulated in Section 89 (a) of the National Drugs Control Act No. 10 of 2008.

On the 22nd of August 2023, at New Camp, Grafton Village in Waterloo, police alleged that the accused was found in possession of 72 wraps of Kush, weighing 25.5 grams, without lawful authority.

Testifying in court was Detective Police Officer 13829, Peter Bangura, assigned to the Transnational Organized Crime Department at Hastings.

The witness vividly recalled that on the 26th of August 2023, while on duty, he was assigned a case involving the suspect. The case included an exhibit of 72 wraps of Kush and fiscal cash amounting to one thousand and fifty-nine New Leones.

Detective Bangura, along with Detective Kanu M, conducted an interview with the accused person. At the conclusion of the interview, the statement was read and clarified to the accused. The accused, in acknowledgment of its accuracy, affixed his right-hand thumbprint to the statement. This thumbprint served as confirmation of the statement’s truth.

The statement was duly created and presented in court.

The witness further testified that on the same date, he and Sergeant 8310 charged the accused with illegal possession of Kush, and the charge declaration was formally presented in court.

Subsequently, the defense counsel applied for bail on behalf of his client, but Magistrate Negba denied the accused bail.

The proceedings have been adjourned to the 14th of [insert month] 2023 for further hearings.