By: Audrey Raymonda John
A Judge of the High Court in Freetown, Mark Ngegba, on Thursday, 12th February 2026, sentenced a Pakistani national, Abdullah Abdul Rehman, to 40 years’ imprisonment for possession of 300 grams of cocaine.
The accused was charged with unlawful possession of drugs contrary to Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act 2008, Act No. 10 of 2008.
The prosecution alleged that on 4th January 2025, at Lungi in the North-West Region of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the accused was found in possession of 300 grams of cocaine without lawful authority.
At his arraignment, the accused pleaded not guilty, and the matter proceeded to full trial.
In delivering his judgment, Justice Ngegba emphasized that the standard of proof in criminal cases is proof beyond reasonable doubt. He noted that the prosecution bore the burden of proving each element of the offence and that any reasonable doubt arising from the evidence must benefit the accused. To discharge this burden, the prosecution called three witnesses. PW1: Assistant Superintendent of Police Joseph Stevens
ASP Stevens, a forensic analyst attached to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU), testified that on 6th January 2025 he received a laboratory request from Detective Inspector Steven Alpha Turay. The request was to analyze two transparent polythene bags containing 46 pellets of white powdered substance suspected to be cocaine.
He conducted presumptive tests and further laboratory and microscopic crystal examinations. The analysis confirmed the substance to be cocaine hydrochloride. The laboratory request was tendered as Exhibit ‘A’ and the forensic report as Exhibits ‘B1-2’.
PW2: Detective Sergeant 9859 Sahr Kovoma Sundu
Detective Sergeant Sundu, an investigator attached to TOCU, testified that he was assigned to investigate the case. He tendered the accused’s Voluntary Caution Statement (Exhibits ‘C1-3’), Additional Voluntary Caution Statement (Exhibits ‘D1-8’), and Charge Statement (Exhibits ‘E1-3’).
During cross-examination, he stated that the accused claimed the substance was given to him by someone whose phone number he provided. However, the number was constantly switched off, and the accused did not know the person’s name. He also tendered documentation from the Magistrate Court, marked Exhibit ‘F’. The witness stated that the accused’s passport and mobile phone were not relevant to his investigation.
PW3: Detective Police Constable 13682 John Umaru
DPC Umaru, the exhibit clerk at TOCU, testified that his duties include safekeeping exhibits and producing them in court. He tendered a Destruction Certificate of Narcotic Drugs (Exhibits ‘G1-2’) and the remaining quantity of cocaine (Exhibit ‘H’). The Committal Warrant was also tendered as Exhibits ‘J1-3’.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, the accused testified on oath through an interpreter, Dr. Mansoor Ahmad.
He stated that he was a businessman dealing in mobile phones and was residing at Country Lodge Hotel when he arrived in Sierra Leone. He admitted being in possession of the substance but claimed it was given to him by a friend and that he did not know it was cocaine. He further stated that he was a habitual user.
Under cross-examination, the accused admitted concealing the substance in his socks. In his caution statements to the police, he acknowledged possession of the white substance suspected to be cocaine, stating that it had been given to him by a Sierra Leonean to take to Pakistan, though he claimed he did not know it was cocaine.
Justice Ngegba held that under Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act 2008, possession may be actual or constructive and does not necessarily imply ownership. He referred to Section 54(a) of the Act, which provides that if a drug is found within the immediate vicinity of the accused, it is presumed to be in his possession unless proven otherwise.
The Judge further noted that Section 17 of the Act places the burden on the accused to prove lawful authority for possession of drugs. The accused failed to discharge this burden.
Relying on the forensic evidence of PW1 and the laboratory report confirming the substance as cocaine hydrochloride, the court found no evidence contradicting the prosecution’s case. Justice Ngegba also stated that corroboration is not required under the Act and that a conviction can be based on the credible testimony of a single witness.
He concluded that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“Considering the foregoing, I hold that the prosecution has provided sufficient evidence to warrant a guilty verdict against the defendant. The defendant is therefore found guilty of the offence charged,” the Judge ruled.
In mitigation, defence counsel A. Kamanda and W. Garber pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, noting that the convict was a foreign national.
However, after considering the plea, Justice Ngegba sentenced Abdullah Abdul Rehman to 40 years’ imprisonment.
Lawyers A. Jalloh and E. A. Deen prosecuted the matter on behalf of the State.