By: Audrey Raymonda John
Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 in Freetown on Friday 30th September, 2023 remanded Gibrilla Kalokoh and Abdul Rahman Bangura at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown for allegedly in possession of cannabis sativa contrary to section 48(1) of the Pharmacy Drug Act of 2001.
The accused were arraigned before the court on four counts charges of unlawful possession of cannabis contrary to the aforesaid section.
It was alleged by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that the first accused, Gibrilla Kalokoh, on 12th August, 2023 at Peace Market was found in possession of forty (40) tablets suspected to be tramadols.
The charge sheet furthered that on the same date and place in Freetown the first accused was unlawfully in possession of one hundred and fifty-three (153) of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa.
The police said on the same date and place in Freetown, the second accused, Abdul Rahman Bangura was found in possession of forty tables suspected to be tramadol weighing 5.6 grams.
The first prosecution witness Detective Sergeant 10454 Sesay Ferewah who had earliest testified in respect of the matter an application was made by the defence counsel Musa A. Kamara for a recalled which was granted by Magistrate Kekura.
Detective Sergeant Sesay Ferewah is currently attached to the Criminal Investigations Department CID at the Regional Ross Road Police Station, Harbour Division in Freetown.
During cross examination by defence counsel Musa A. Kamara asked the witness that he was the lead investigator in respect of the matter to which he responded in the affirmative.
Lawyer Kamara asked the witness as to when the accused were brought before him for further investigation.
Responding, Sergeant Sesay Ferewah said the accused were brought to him on Saturday 12th 2023.
He put it to the witness that during his evidence in chief he intimated the bench that the Arresting Officer, Detective Inspector Umar Jalloh handed over the accused including 153 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa to which he responded in the affirmative.
Mr Kamara suggested to the witness that he was not the one who wrote the letter to the head of Forensic Analyst for expert.
Responding, he said he was the one who wrote the letter, adding that it was endorsed by his boss.
Lawyer Kamara asked the witness if he granted the accused opportunities and time frame to legal representation which he answered in affirmative.
He confronted the witness that during his investigations, the first accused told him that he was athlete while the second told him that he was a trader at Peace Market to which he answered in the affirmative.
Eventually, lawyer Kamara put to the accused he was not truthful to the court.
In response, he told the court that he was truthful.
Mr Kamara renewed his previous application for bail on behalf of his clients, but they were refused bail and remanded at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to 5th October, 2023 for further hearing.
Chief Inspector Isatu Bangura is prosecuting the matter.
