By: Audrey Raymonda John
The High Court has sentenced Ibrahim Lesford, a community headman of Cline Town, to twenty (20) years’ imprisonment after convicting him on two counts of unlawful possession of drugs, contrary to Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act, 2008 (Act No. 10 of 2008).
Delivering judgment, Honourable Justice Mark Ngegba stated that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and found the accused guilty as charged.
The accused was arraigned on two counts of unlawful possession of drugs. The prosecution alleged that on 4 October 2024, in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Lesford was found in possession of 30.5 grams of kush and 25.5 grams of tramadol without lawful authority. He initially pleaded not guilty to both charges.
The prosecution called three witnesses who testified under oath.
Prosecution Witness 1 (PW1): Assistant Superintendent of Police Joseph Stevens, a Forensic Analyst attached to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU), testified that his duties include analyzing drugs and other chemical substances for expert opinion.
He informed the court that on 10 October 2024, he received a laboratory request from Detective Assistant Superintendent of Police Mohamed K. Kandeh to analyze dried leaves suspected to be kush and five pink circular film-coated tablets suspected to be tramadol hydrochloride. After conducting presumptive tests and further laboratory analysis, including chemical and microscopic crystal examinations, he confirmed that the substance suspected to be kush tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids. The tramadol tablets tested positive for tramadol hydrochloride, with traces of fentanyl, pethidine, and levorphanol. He told the court that the substances were prohibited narcotics.
Prosecution Witness 2 (PW2): Detective Police Constable 18157 Baindu Winifred Dassama, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), testified that on 4 October 2024, ASP Francis Momoh Tommy and his team arrested the defendant during an operation. She stated that 320 wraps of suspected kush, a loose quantity of suspected kush, and five cards of tramadol (each containing 10 tablets) were found in his possession. The substances were later handed over to the exhibit clerk.
Prosecution Witness 3 (PW3): Detective Sergeant 10275 Buya Abu Koroma, attached to the Exhibit Office at Ross Road Police Station, testified that his responsibilities include registering case files and managing exhibits. He said that on 16 October 2024, he received 320 wraps of suspected kush and five cards of suspected tramadol. Twenty wraps of suspected kush and two cards of suspected tramadol were sent for forensic examination. The items were registered in the Book of Court Exhibits as Serial No. 194/2024, and 300 wraps of suspected kush and tramadol were tendered in court as exhibits.
The convict, Abraham Lesford, testified as Defence Witness 1 (DW1). He introduced himself as the community headman of Cline Town and stated that he was arrested at 13 Quicker Lane, Cline Town.
He told the court that on 4 October 2024, he had left home to obtain medication for his wife. During his absence, police reportedly conducted a drug raid in the community. According to him, an unknown man ran into his house and sat on his couch. When police officers entered the room, they allegedly discovered a plastic bag containing drugs on the couch where the unknown man had been seated. He said he was arrested, beaten, and taken to the OSD Headquarters, where he was forced to sign a statement.
His wife, Alice Lesford, was not permitted to testify pursuant to Section 84(3) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2024.
In delivering his judgment, Justice Mark Ngegba held that the prosecution’s evidence clearly demonstrated that the defendant was in unlawful possession of kush and tramadol. The court found no evidence showing that he had lawful authority to possess the 30.5 grams of kush and 25.5 grams of tramadol presented before the court.
“Based on the evidence presented by the prosecution, it is very clear that the defendant was unlawfully in possession of the above drugs. I therefore sentence him to twenty (20) years’ imprisonment,” the judge declared.
The State was represented by A. Jalloh and E. A. Deen, while the defence was represented by C. Campbell.