By: Audrey Raymonda John
Twenty-five-year-old Abu Bakarr Sesay, a cleaner, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the unlawful possession of kush following his final appearance before Justice Isata Sellu Tucker at the Criminal Session of the High Court No. 5, Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown.
Sesay was charged under Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act 2008 (Act No. 10 of 2008) for being in possession of 60.5 grams of kush without lawful authority on October 27, 2024, in Freetown. Upon the reading of the charge, the defendant pleaded guilty.
Although the defendant was not legally represented, he appealed to the judge for leniency, pleading for mercy.
In her judgment, Justice Tucker acknowledged the defendant’s acceptance of responsibility for his actions, noting that he had not wasted the court’s time. She also took into consideration the plea for mitigation, stating that the offence of kush possession has become alarmingly prevalent in society, causing harm to individuals and endangering public safety.
Justice Tucker emphasized that the court and the judiciary have a duty to send a strong message that such illegal conduct will not be tolerated. As a result, she sentenced Sesay to ten years in prison at the male correctional facility in Freetown. The seized kush was ordered to be forfeited by the state and destroyed by the appropriate authorities.
Justice Tucker also advised the defendant to refrain from engaging in such criminal conduct after serving his sentence.