By: Audrey Raymonda John
38 year old driver Ibrahim Bangura, who resides in Freetown, has made his second appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 for unlawful possession of 14 tablets of tramadol weighing 225 grams and 635 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Kush weighing 7.4 grams.
Ibrahim Bangura was arrested on 25 January 2023 at Fisheries, Kissy Dock-Yard in Freetown.
The accused appeared before the court on two counts charges of contravention of recruitment under section 59(1) of the Pharmacy and Drugs Act of 2001, to wit, processing class (A) drug, without lawful authority and unlawful possession contrary to section 8 (a) of the Pharmacy and Drugs Act of 2001.
It was alleged by the police that the accused, on 25 January 2023 at Fisheries in Kissy Dock-Yard, Freetown, was found in possession of fourteen (14) tablets suspected to be tramadol.
The charge sheet furthered that Ibrahim Bangura, on the same date and place in Freetown, was found in possession of 635 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Kush.
Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Osman M. Bangura, former witness Detective Police Constable (DPC) 13108 Sallaymatu Kamara, attached to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) in Hastings on the outskirts of Freetown, told the bench that she recognized the accused and could recall Monday 30 January 2023.
Madam Kamara continued that on the above-mentioned date, she was at the aforesaid unit in Hastings when she received a case and inquiry file from the Regional Headquarters, Ross Road Police Station, Harbour Division.
She added that the file assigned to her contained the accused’s voluntary caution statement, six hundred and thirty-five (635) wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Kush and fourteen (14) tablets suspected to be tramadol.
She said the Forensic Analyst, DPC 1376 Steven J, took twenty (20) wraps and three (3) tablets for laboratory tests.
The witness disclosed to the bench that DPC Steven J. handed over the report to her to aid her investigations. When the police prosecutor ASP Osman M. Bangura attempted to tender the laboratory test report to form part of the court’s records, Defense Counsel A. R. Kargbo objected by citing section 63 (5) of the National Drugs Act of Sierra Leone, emphasizing that the said report did not meet the requirement of the aforesaid act.
Lawyer Kargbo also renewed and adopted his previous application for bail on behalf of his client.
Mr. Kargbo told the court that his client is a tuberculosis patient and also tendered a medical report signed by a certified doctor, Sheku Jabbie.
Responding, ASP Bangura told the court that the defence counsel had not served them with the medical report, buttressing that a subpoena should be served on the said medical doctor to confirm the same in court on the next adjourned date.
Mr Bangura emphasized that he did not know the author of the said document, which could have been prepared by anyone.
In response, Magistrate Kekura having heard the application and responses from the prosecutor, admonished the defense counsel to furnish the bench with the hard copy of the said section against the next adjourned date.
He added that he had no problem with the face value of the medical report, assuring that as a bencher, he was there to hold the balance being that the prosecutor was averse to the bail application.
Ultimately, Magistrate Kekura denied the accused bail and remanded him at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to 21st February 2023 for a ruling.