By: Audrey Raymonda John
Sekou Tidiane Camara a Guinean National and Mabinty Sufian Kargbo an Aviation Security working at the Freetown International Airport Lungi were on Monday 9th October 2023, sent to prison by Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Court No1 for the alleged transportation of 24 plastics drugs from Freetown to Philippines without lawful authority.
The accused persons made their first appearance in court and were arraigned on six counts charges ranging Possession of high risk drugs without lawful authority contrary to section 8(a) of the national drugs control Act, 2008 act No 10 of 2008, transportation of high risk drugs without lawful authority contrary to section 7(b) of the national drugs control Act No 10 of 2008, Aiding and Abetting the transportation of high risk drugs, Obstruction of authorized person in the performance of functions , Failing to comply with the requirements made by an authorized person in the performance of his functions and Failing to disclose information required by an authorized person in the performance of his functions contrary to section 65(C)(ii) of the national drugs control Act,2008, Act No 10 of 2008.
According to the indictments on count one, the first accused Sekou Tidiane Camara on Sunday 27th August 2023, at the Freetown International Airport Lungi, in the Kaffu Bullom chiefdom in the Northern province were found in possession of 24 plastics sachets of Amphetamine a high risk drugs, without lawful authority.
It was further alleged on count two that the accused on the same date and place transported 24 plastics sachets of Amphetamine a high risk drug from Freetown for onward shipment to Manila, Philippines, without lawful authority.
Count three stated that the second accused Mabinty Sufian Kargbo between Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th August 2923, at Freetown International Airport aided and abetted Sekou Tidiane Camara in the transportation of 24 plastics sachets of Amphetamine a high risk drug from Freetown for onward shipment to Manila, Philippines.
The police further alleged on count four that Mabinty Sufian Kargbo on Saturday 26th August 2023, at the Freetown International Airport obstructed police corporal 14366 Peter Sheku Konneh in the performance of his functions at the main entrance of the Freetown International Airport Lungi
It was also alleged in count five that the first accused Sekou Tidiane Camara on the same date and place failed to comply with the requirements made by Police Corporal 14366 Peter Sheku Konneh in performance of his functions at the main entrance of the Freetown International Airport, Lungi.
Whiles counts six added that the Sekou Tidiane Camara on the same date and place failed to disclose information required to the same police in the performance of his functions at the main entrance of Freetown International Airport, Lungi.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused persons, no plead was taken.
Second Prosecution witness (PW2) Detective Corporal12225 Fanta Fofanah led in evidence by Chief Superintendent of police said she is attached to the CID Airport police station Amvil division Lungi.
She recognized the accused persons and further recalled on 26 August 2023, adding on that day she was on duty at the Airport cargo Lungi.
Whiles on duty at around 17.000 hrs, she said she saw the first accused boarded a motor bike accompany by the second accused who is working at the west minister officer Lungi Airport.
”I asked the first accused as to what was wrap inside the cartoon, but he responded that he could not speak Krio but French and second then told me that she is with him that she came to assist him with the shipment of cartoons that contained spare part”, she stated.
The witness said she asked her to call the Sky Handling Partners (SHP) staff Tamu and then she did.
According to her, Tamu came and tore four of the cartoon apart and said during the process she saw tyres, adding that each has four Bolt and nut attached to it.
She said she asked the second accused if indeed the tyres were Spare parts and she replied in the affirmative.
PW2 said she told the accused that she was not satisfied with the items but the second accused in reply confirmed it to be spare parts adding that they are not going to ship it on that day but the following day and that when they are ready to load the items she will called her to see the content for herself.
After their discussion, she said she was still standing and not convinced, and then asked the first accused who confirmed in a Mandigo language that it was not his first time shipping such items out of the country.
The witness said after they have confirmed it, she then allowed her to go.
On Sunday 24 August 2023, the witness said whiles on duty, at around 1.30, the staff started reporting for duty, and she saw Cpl 10923 DSS arrived at the departure, adding on his arrival she met him and told him about what had happened and he in returned gave her an informed about the goods.
She said base on the information received, she said she went to their boss Mr Marrah and explained to him.
” I met the first accused with Mr Jimmy, who I told that the good he was about to load were drugs, but he said he has not seen the goods and therefore could not tell and that I should go and wait which I did”, the witness explained.
Whiles waiting, PW2 said she was grumbling as well as to the time she has waited for when the second accused heard her and then told her to stop grumbling that she will come with two of the items for her to check.
Tamu she said took two of the spare tyre and place it on the screening machine in order for them to see the content.
She said she saw the tyre on the screen, and then asked the second asked as to how would she know that the items are indeed spare tyres, she said she then took one of the tyre and shook it, adding that whiles she was doing so, she heard something inside.
Whiles on that process, the second accused overall boss Mary Ngewuja she said came to them scanning machine, and that on her arrival she asked the second accused if she had document for the said items and she said no.
Her boss she said stop her from scanning the items, and that immediately the second accused went and came with a documents showing that it was the airwave bill. She said the airwave bill was handed over to her for clarification and then handed it over to her and she took it to her boss who called her and gave her the go ahead to screen the documents which she did.
She said after the scanning she asked madam Ngewuja as to what was her findings, but in reply said nothing of police interest was found.
”But I was persistence and then Mary told Tamu to go and come with hammer which he did, the hammer was used to unlock the tyre, when the tyre was open, I saw three plastic containing substance suspect to be white mint”, she said.
The witness said she contacted CSP Fatmata and informed her as to what she has discovered, adding that not too long, the support officer accompany by one ONS staff arrived at the scene.
She said on their arrival the ONS staff had a machine on which she place on the substance and discovered that it was a drug.
The manager Mr Lavelley she said order Tamu to open the remaining tyres which he did and they discovered all together 24 plastic containing substances suspected to be drug.
Mr Lavalley she said handed over the items to the TOCU officers ASP Kamanda for further investigation.
On the 28th August 2023, she said she made statement to the police at Lungi.
During cross examination by lawyer F Mansaray for the first accused, the witness said she intercepted the first accused and asked him to open the cartoon which he deed .
When she was asked as to whether she arrested the first accused on the day he was intercepted, the witness said she did not, adding that he was only arrested when the drugs was discovered.
When she was asked as to whether the first accused was present during the search, she said no and that the items were in custody of second accused until it was discovered to be drugs.
She confirmed that the first accused told her that the goods are not his as he was working under the instruction of some one.
Lawyer Gevao in his cross examination for the second accused asked the witness how long has she been working at the airport, she said 7 months, adding that staff that working at the airport do assist exporters.
He confronted the witness that the box was open by one Tamu, and she said yes.
He added that as at the time Tamu was trying to know the content of the box the second accused did not stop Tamu from doing his job the witness replied in the affirmative.
The witness confirmed that the result of the screening of the tyre by both second accused and her boss Mary were the same.
The witness said the items were kept at the place where second accused work.
In conclusion asked the witness that she could not have tell the content that was in the tyre if it was not broken, the witness said she couldn’t have known.
Prior to her testimony, Corporal 14366 Peter Sheku Konneh attached to the Airport police station Amvil division also testified in respect of the matter.
Lawyer Gevao applied for bail on behalf of the accused persons, adding that offense for which they are standing trial for are bailable.
In respect of the affidavit in opposition to bail, submitted that the second accused person is a Sierra Leoneans and not a foreigner as alleged by the Prosecutor.
Lawyer Gevao said she had a permanent abode.
His application was made pursuant to section 79 sub sections 3 of the criminal procedure Act No32 of 1965.
The prosecutor CSP Juan Bull in reply vehemently opposed to bail on the grounds that the offences for which they are charged were very serious and that they want to proceed speedily.
Magistrate Ngegba refused bail on the grounds that the offenses were serious and the matter was adjourned to the 13th October 2023 for further hearing.