By: Audrey Raymonda John
Monica Kumba Kaiwandi has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by Justice Mark Ngegba of the High Court in Freetown for unlawful possession of 165 tablets of Tramadol.
The defendant faced a one-count charge of unlawful possession of drugs contrary to Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act No. 10 of 2008.
According to the indictment, on 29 July 2025 in Freetown, Western Area, Monica Kumba Kaiwandi was found in possession of 800 grams of Tramadol without lawful authority.
In his ruling, Justice Ngegba stated that the prosecution had proven the case beyond reasonable doubt, finding the defendant guilty.
The state prosecutor, A. Jalloh, informed the court that the defendant had no prior criminal convictions. He explained that she was caught with the drugs and subsequently charged to court.
During her allocutus, the defendant tearfully told the court that she is a mother of three and the breadwinner of her family, pleading with the judge to temper justice with mercy.
In delivering the judgment, Justice Ngegba emphasized that the evidence presented clearly showed that the defendant was unlawfully in possession of the Tramadol. He stated:
“Based on the evidence presented in court, it is very clear that the defendant was unlawfully in possession of the above drugs. I therefore sentence her to 20 years imprisonment.”
The defendant was represented in court by M. Y. Conteh.