By: Audrey Raymonda John
Forty-seven-year-old Issa Kamara, a kekeh rider, made another appearance before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah of Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown, facing a charge of unlawful possession of kush, contrary to Section 8 (a) of the National Drugs Control Act No. 10 of 2008.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Sunday, 28th April 2024, at the Wire House Nightclub, Lumley Beach Road, Aberdeen, Western Area, Freetown, Kamara was found in possession of seventy-six wraps of kush.
When the charge was read and explained to the defendant, no plea was taken.
The State prosecutor, A.B.N. Taylor Kamara Esq., called Inspector Alfred Ansumana Bangura as the second prosecution witness. Inspector Bangura, currently attached to the Criminal Investigation Department at the Aberdeen Police Station, recalled that on 30th April 2024, while on duty, he was part of an operation team led by Inspector M.B. Koroma. The matter was allocated to DPC 17684 Brewa T for further investigation, with Inspector Bangura assigned as the supervisor.
During the investigation, Kamara was cautioned and questioned in Krio, and his statement was recorded in English. At the conclusion of the statement, it was read over and explained to Kamara, who admitted it to be true and correct. He affixed his right-hand thumbprint, and DPC 17684 Brewa T signed as the recorder. The statement was then produced and tendered in court, forming part of the court records, and was marked as Exhibit B1-4.
On 4th June 2024, Inspector Bangura, together with the investigator, formally charged the defendant with the offence for which he is standing trial. The charge statement, which followed the same procedure as Kamara’s voluntary caution statement, was produced and tendered in court, forming part of the court records, and was marked as Exhibit C1-2.
The prosecutor informed the court that the evidence presented constitutes the case for the prosecution.
Magistrate Jah, after reviewing the evidence presented by the prosecution witnesses, noted that the defendant had been given the opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses. He concluded that the prosecution had provided sufficient evidence to warrant the committal of the matter to the High Court for trial. As a result, Magistrate Jah committed the case to the High Court for the continuation of Kamara’s trial. The defendant was not granted bail.