By Audrey John
The accused on the above action, Marcel Okechuku Zoro, a Nigerian national is before the court for Preliminary Investigation on four count charges of importation of class A drugs without license contrary to section 45(b) 9f the Pharmacy and Drugs Act of 2001.
It was alleged on the police charge sheet that on Thursday 23rd December 2021 at the Queen Elizabeth Quay II Cline Town, imported thirty seven cartoons of tramadol hydrochloride (Labelled new royal 225mg tablets) weighed 744.5kg from India to Sierra Leone without license and lawful authority.
Led in his examination in chief by ASP C. Davis Cole,
Prosecution witness number three police constable 13905 Mohamed Yusif Jalloh attached exhibits stored at the transnational organized crime unit (TOCU) Hastings said he knows the accused person through this matter.
On the 29th December 2021 whilst on duty at the said office, on that day a team of police officers including himself left TOCU and went to Queen Elizabeth Quay II Cline Town Freetown for inspection of container suspected to be Tramadol.
After the inspection Sergeant 9802 Bangura J.P handed over to him 37 cartoons of tramadol hydrochloride label new calorie 255mg which he registrar in the court register book against serial number 30/2021 as NRA is part of TOCU he kept the exhibit at Queen Elizabeth Quay II Cline Town the door was locked and he placed a sealed on the door and indicated it with number 04083 in the presence of other representative from ONS, NRA and Anti-Corruption, since then the exhibit was in his custody
The Defence counsel didn’t object to the tendering of the Tramadols he said his client has no idea about the said Tramadols, one of the cartoons was open in court it was produce and tendered as exhibit F1-37
During Cross examination by defense counsel Jessie M Jengo you said this exhibit has been in your custody yes and had been handed over to you by one sergeant Bangura the witness said yes.
When was it placed under locked and key the witness said on the 29th December 2021 apart of them no one has interfered with the exhibit the witness said no one has been interfered with it?
Are you aware that after the 29th December 2021 this exhibit was counted and a publication was made through social media by the police am not aware, are you also aware that the press conference was made am not aware.
You’re about the counting of the exhibit and also the press conference so most of the things you’re not aware the prosecution objects to the question that it’s unfair to the witness.
I am putting it to you that this exhibit was not in your custody yes, is it in November you started acting as exhibit Clerk I started working at TOCU since November as an exhibit Clerk, you said you sealed this exhibit in a particular room the witness said yes.
Did you surprise to know that the investigating officer testified in court that the exhibit was in the custody of Queen Elizabeth Quay II Cline Town.
If the court adjourned this matter to tomorrow will you make this exhibit book available in this court yes, he concludes.
No re-examination from the prosecution but made application that the exhibit been taken back to the Queen Elizabeth II Quay Cline Town Freetown application the said application was granted
However counsel representing the accused person renewed his previous bail application on behalf of the accused person.
Magistrate Keikura refused bail and sent the accused person to the male correctional centre in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to the 28th March 2022 for further hearing.
