By: Audrey Raymonda John
Investigating Officer Detective Sergeant Alie Suliamalia attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at the Regional Ross Road Police Station Harbour Division in Freetown has testified before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 in Freetown in the ongoing unlawful possession matter involving Mohamed Colo Bah and three others.
The accused appeared before the court for unlawful possession contrary to section 8(a) of the National Drugs control Act of 2008 and other related charges.
It was alleged that the first accused, Mohamed Colo Bah, on Tuesday 8th August, 2023 at No. 88 Thunder Hill Road Kissy Freetown, was found in possession of certain wraps substances suspected to be Kush.
The charge sheet furthered that the second accused, Alfred Coker was found in possession of 164 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Kush.
The police say the third accused, Ibrahim Ben Kamara, on the same date at No. 7 Sesay Lane in Calaba Town was found in possession of 17 tablets suspected to be tramadol.
The third accused, was also found in possession of 16 tablets suspected to be tramadol.
Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent Sub of Police ASP Osman M. Bangura formal Detective Sergeant Suliamalia Ishmael residing at Black Hall Road Kissy Freetown said he recognized the complainant and recognized the first, second, third and fourth accused and could recall Tuesday 20th August, 2023.
On the day in question , Sergeant Ishmael said he was on duty at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) the Regional Ross Road Police Station, Harbour Division in Freetown, when Detective Inspector Desmond Kamara attached to the Anti-Drugs unit, at the aforesaid division when the first, second, third and fourth accused were arrested and brought into the station for investigations.
He said the matter was assigned to him by his boss for investigations, adding that on the same he and Detective Police Constable (DPC) 14985 Kamara M obtained statement from the first, second, third and fourth accused separately.
He said at the end of their statements, they admitted to them to be true and correct by affixing their right hand thumbprints witnessed by Detective Police Constable 14985.
The accused’s voluntary caution statements were produced and tendered to form part of the court’s records.
The witness said on the same day Detective Inspector Campbell handed over to him dried leaves suspected to be Kush, military attire and tables suspected to be tramadol to the Exhibit Officer for safekeeping.
On Thursday 10th August 2023 he said he wrote a letter to the forensic analysts for expert opinion on the exhibits.
Defence counsel Alie Santos Sesay renewed and adopted his previous application for bail on behalf the first accused pursuant to section 79 of the Criminal Procedure Act No 32 1965.
Responding, Magistrate Kekura refused the accused person bail and was remanded at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to Monday 19th September, 2023.
Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP Osman M. Bangura is prosecuting the matter.
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