By Problyn J Alpha
In a recent ruling at the Sefadu Magistrate Court, located at D O Barracks in Koidu City, Kono District, Magistrate Joseph Toby handed down significant sentences to individuals found guilty of unlawful possession of drugs.
Tamba Steven Mbayoh and Ishmael Kanu faced the court’s judgment, with Mbayoh receiving a forty-nine-month prison term for unlawful possession of kush, in violation of Section 8(1) of the Pharmacy and Drugs Control Act 2008. The offense, which occurred on February 6th, 2024, at the Tankoro camp in Koidu City, involved the substantial seizure of kush. Kanu, on the other hand, was sentenced to thirty months in prison or a fine of four thousand Leones for a similar offense under the same act.
Additionally, Assanatu Kawa found herself on the wrong side of the law, receiving a thirty-month prison sentence for unlawful possession of cannabis sativa, contravening Section 8 of the Anti-Drugs Control Act 2008. Kawa, arrested at the Mamundu checkpoint on February 18th, 2024, appeared before Magistrate Joseph Toby on February 20th, 2024, pleading guilty to the charges.
These proceedings were conducted under the prosecution of Sgt. 9407 Kabia Patrick, showcasing the commitment of law enforcement to combat drug-related offenses in the region. Magistrate Joseph Toby’s rulings underscore the severity with which the judiciary views such violations, serving as a deterrent to potential offenders.
The sentences highlight the importance of adhering to drug control laws and the consequences individuals face when found in breach of such regulations. The judiciary’s firm stance signals a concerted effort to maintain law and order, particularly concerning illicit substances, in the Kono District.
