By: Audrey Raymonda John
Mohamed Kamara, a footballer, made another appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown, facing five counts related to drug offences. The charges include:
Collecting a prohibited drug without lawful authority
Transporting a prohibited drug without lawful authority
Exposing a prohibited drug without lawful authority
Dealing in a prohibited drug without lawful authority
Possession of a prohibited drug without lawful authority
According to the charge sheet, on Wednesday, 19th March 2025, at the Lumley Police Checkpoint in the Western Area of Freetown, the accused allegedly committed the said offences.
When the charges were read and explained in court, no plea was taken from the accused.
Leading the prosecution, Detective Police Constable (DPC) 18235 Kebbie K. Thoronka called the first prosecution witness, DPC 19164 Alie Alhaji Turay, who is attached to the Criminal Investigation Department at Lumley Police Station.
DPC Turay testified that he recognized both the accused and the complainant in the matter. He recalled that on 19th March 2025, the accused was arrested and brought to the Lumley Police Station by Inspector Osman Kargbo, an officer attached to the Operational Support Division (OSD) at Lumley.
On the same date, DPC Turay and Sergeant Major Dumbuya I cautioned and questioned the accused in the Krio language. The accused’s statement was recorded in English. At the conclusion of the interview, the statement was read and explained to the accused, who confirmed its accuracy and voluntarily affixed his right-hand thumbprint. The statement was signed by the investigator and produced in court as evidence, forming part of the official court record.
The prosecutor then requested a short adjournment for further proceedings.
The accused was not legally represented during the hearing.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Fornah denied bail due to the serious nature of the charges and ordered that the accused be remanded at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to 24th June 2025 for further evidence.