By: Audrey Raymonda John
Tuesday, 28th October 2025, Fifty-eight-year-old businessman, Dide Maxwell, appeared before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at Pademba Road Court No.1, facing three counts of drug-related charges. Two of the charges involve possession of a prohibited drug without lawful authority, while the third charge relates to dealing in a prohibited drug without lawful authority.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Thursday, 25th September 2025, at #58 Mac-Robert Street, Bo, in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone, Maxwell was found in possession of 148 wraps and one sachet of Kush without lawful authority.
The second count stated that on the same date and location, Maxwell was found with a half-compressed parcel of Cannabis Sativa, also without lawful authority.
The third charge alleges that Maxwell was involved in dealing prohibited drugs on the same date and at the same location, without lawful authority.
When the charges were read to Maxwell, no plea was taken. According to the new Criminal Procedure Act, all testimonies have already been taken under oath at the police station.
State prosecutor A.B.N. Taylor Kamara Esq. informed the Magistrate that there were no objections from the defence counsel regarding the evidence presented. He therefore submitted several documents, including the laboratory report dated 29th September 2025, the forensic analysis report, the arresting officer’s report, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) advice, as well as the defendant’s voluntary caution and charge statements, in accordance with Section 112, Paragraph C of the new Criminal Procedure Act 2024, and Section 113 of the Criminal Procedure Act No. 8 of 2024.
There was no objection from the defence counsel.
Magistrate Jah declined to grant bail and remanded Maxwell to the male correctional facility in Freetown. The matter has been adjourned to 29th October 2025 for further proceedings.