By: Audrey Raymonda John
Investigating Officer who doubles as Sub- Inspector Desmond Kamara attached to the Anti-Drugs unit at the Regional Ross Road Police Station, Harbour Division disclosed to the court that he apprehended the first accused person, Mohamed Colo Bah with a military attire and drives leaves suspected to be Kush.
Mr Kamara told Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 when the defence counsel, Alie Santos Sesay confronted him that his client was not in possession of any of the aforesaid exhibits in his possession, to which he responded in the affirmative, adding that when a search was conducted at the accused’s premises the above-mentioned dried leaves suspected to be Kush and a military attire were discovered.
Lawyer Sesay suggested to the witness that he was part of the entire investigations, which he answered in the affirmative.
Mr Sesay put it to the witness that during the investigation, four accused were apprehended to which he responded in the affirmative.
Counsel for the accused asked the witness where the accused was arrested.
Responding, Mr Desmond Kamara who happens to be the witness told the court that he arrested the first accused at No. 88 Thunder Hill Road, Kissy Mess Mess, but he couldn’t recall the actual time.
Sesay asked the witness as to what offence or offences he cautioned the first accused upon he his arrested.
In reply, the witness said he cautioned the accused for unlawful possession of dried leaves suspected to be Kush.
Lawyer Sesay confronted the witness that the report he wrote didn’t show any evidence that the first accused was arrested on personal with said items.
Responding, Mr Kamara answered in the affirmative, buttressing that when a search was conducted; those items were discovered at the accused’s premises.
Having concluding his cross examination, he renewed his previous application for bail on behalf the first accused, Mohamed Colo.
Magistrate Kekura in response refused the accused bail on the grounds the offence which levied against the accused is of a public interest and grave. Mohamed Colon Bah, Ibrahim Ben Kamara, Alimamy Kargbo and Alfred Conteh arraigned before the court for unlawful possession contrary to section 8 (a) of the National Drugs control Act of 2008 and other related charges contrary to law.
It was alleged that Mohamed Colon Bah, on Tuesday 8th August 2023 at. No. 88 Thunder Hill in Freetown was found in possession of the aforesaid wraps substances suspected to be Kush.
The charge sheet furthered that Alfred Coker, on the same date in July the accused person was found in possession of 164 wraps suspected to be Kush.
It was alleged that Ibrahim Ben Kamara, on the same date at No. 7 Sesay Lane in Calaba Town Freetown, was found in possession of 17 tables suspected to be tramadol.
The third accused on same date at No. Up Town Bar, in Calaba Town, Freetown was found in possession of a box and 16 suspected to be tramadol.
Formal witness Sub- Inspector Desmond Kamara attached to the Ross Road Police Station Harbour Division at the Anti- Drugs unit, Freetown East said he recognized the accused and could recall Tuesday 8th August 2023.
Inspector Kamara a team of police officers headed by Sub-Inspector, Musa Conteh boarded SLP 340 embarked on routine patrol in the Freetown east.
He said when the team arrived at the Jay-Mata on Bai Bureh Road; they arrested Alfred Coker residing of Coker Lane, in possession of certain warps of substance suspected to be Kush and eight tables suspected to tramadol. He said when they arrived at No. 88 Upper Thunder Hill Road in Freetown, they arrested Mohamed Colon. Bah of the same address and a search was conducted in his premises.
He said during the search, a box contained tablets suspected to be tramadol, two plastics contained substance suspected to be Kush and 409 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be false, two military caps and jackets and seven scissors, 17 cigarettes papers and cash of twenty one thousand Leones (NL21,000).
Mr Kamara said the accused signed the search warrant witnessed by an independent witness, name withheld.
The endorsed search warrant was produced and tendered to form part of the court’s records.
He said the accused was arrested including items discovered and they proceeded at Upon Town Bar in Calaba Town, Freetown where the second and third accused was arrested.
He said they conducted searches at both the second and third accused’ residences separately.
During the search, he added that 27 tables suspected to tramadol and cash of six hundred and fifty Leones (NLe650) were discovered.
The search warrants were also endorsed in presence of the accused witnessed by independent witness, Mr Hassan Daniel Williams residing at No. 27A Sesay Lane in Calaba, Town Freetown.
The search warrants were produced and tendered to form part of the court’s records disclosing that the warrant was witnessed by Hassan Daniel Williams.
Kamara disclosed that the accused were convened to the Ross Road Police Station and handed them over including the exhibits to the Criminal Investigations Department CID at Ross Road Police Station Harbour Division in Freetown for further investigations.
He said he reduced his findings into report, which was produced and tendered marked exhibits D1-3.
Cross examination was deferred.
The accused were refused bail and remanded at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to 8th September, 2023 for further hearing.
Assistant Superintendent Police ASP Osman M. Bangura is prosecuting the matter.
