By:Audrey Raymonda John
John Shari Law Conteh a herbalist was yesterday sent to prison by magistrate Mark Ngeba of Pademba Road court No1 after he pleaded guilty of been in possession of human bones, a skull and small arms and ammunition without a licence.
The accused made his first appearance in court and was arraigned on five counts of charges ranging from possession of small arms without a licence, having control of small arms without a licence, unlawful concealment of arms, practising sorcery and possessing an instrument of sorcery which are all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The charge sheet indicated that the accused on Tuesday 2 May, 2023 at Newton Waterloo was found in possession of two short guns without a licence.
The charge sheet further that the accused on the same day and place was found in control of small arms without a licence and he unlawfully concealed two short guns without lawful authority.
The police further that the accused was also found in possession of one human skull wrapped with red thread, one half-suspected human bone, one old aluminium chain, three bottles containing a substance suspected to be native medicine, a small calabash, one cup containing red substance suspected to be human blood, one box containing red clothes and one cap suspected to be cobra skin.
After the charges were read and explained to the accused, he pleaded guilty to the offence.
The prosecutor Sergeant 9939 Lahai Farma informed the court that at the next adjourned date he will bring the exhibit clerk to tender the items before the court.
The accused was remanded in custody until 28th June 2023 for further hearing.