By: Audrey Raymonda John
Gibrilla Kalokoh and Abdul Rahman Bangura appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 for allegedly unlawful possession of seventy-four (74) wraps of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa and forty-two (42) wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Kush.
The accused were arraigned before the court on four counts charges of unlawful possession contrary to section 48 (1) of the Pharmacy and Drugs Act No. 12 of 2008.
It was alleged that the first accused, Gibrilla Kalokoh, on Saturday 12th August, 2023, at Peace Market, Ferry Junction, in Freetown, was found in possession of 74 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa.
The charge sheet further stated that the second accused, Abdul Rahman Bangura, on the same date and place in Freetown, was found in of 153 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa.
The police say, on the same date and place, in Freetown, the second accused, was found in possession of forty (40) tables suspected to be tramadol.
Led in evidence by Chief Inspector Isatu Bangura, formal witness, Detective Sergeant 10554 Sesay Ferewah attached to the Ross Road Police Station, Harbour Division at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), in Freetown, he said he recognized the accused and could recall 12th August 2023.
He said he was on duty at the said unit at the Ross Road Police Station, Harbour Division in Freetown, when Inspector Alpha Umar Jalloh and his team arrested and brought in the accused together with the following exhibits such as, seventy-four (74) wraps of cannabis sativa, forty-two (42) dried leaves suspected to be Kush, one hundred and fifty-one dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa and forty (40) tables suspected to be tramadol.
The witness said Inspector Jalloh handed over the accused including the exhibits to him and in turn, he handed them over to the Exhibit Clerk for safekeeping.
He said Inspector Alpha Umar Jalloh wrote a report, which was produced and tendered for identification.
On the same date, he said he obtained statement Police Constable 15038 Koroma U.J. M.
The witness said on 26th August 2023, he and Detective Sergeant 4606 Conteh B.M obtained voluntary cautioned statements from the accused separately, which they admitted to them to be true and correct by affixing their right hands thumbprints, witnessed by Detective Sergeant 4606 Conteh B.M.
The accused’s voluntary caution statement were produced and tendered to form part of the court’s records.
He said on 18th August 2023, he said he wrote request letter to the head of forensic laboratory for expert opinion on the dried leaves.
The letter of request was produced and tendered marked exhibits C1-2.
The witness said on 21st August 2023, the forensic laboratory analyst, whose name was not mentioned, replied to him.
The Forensic Analyst’s reply was tendered marked Y1-8.
The witness concluded his evidence in chief that on 22nd August, 2023, he charged the accused with the aforesaid offences contrary to law.
The accused’s charge statements were produced and tendered in evidence.
During cross examination by first accused, he confronted the witness that he was coerced to make a statement at the police station.
Responding, the witness answered in the negative. The accused were denied bail due to the seriousness of the allegations levied against them.
The matter was adjourned to 1st September 2023 for further hearing.