By: Audrey Raymonda John
Prince Mustapha Massaquoi, a 23-year-old man, made another appearance before Magistrate Mustapha Briama Jah at Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown, facing charges of possessing a prohibited drug without lawful authority. The charge is in violation of Section 8(a) of the National Drug Control Act of 2008, Act No. 10.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Sunday, 1st December 2024, at Caulker Street, Wellington, in the Western Area of Freetown, Massaquoi was found in possession of a loose quantity of kush (a type of cannabis) without lawful authority.
When the charge was read and explained to the defendant, no plea was entered.
State prosecutor A.B.N. Taylor Kamara Esq. presented Prosecution Witness No. 1, DPC 17772 Faud Swarray, attached to the Family Support Unit. DPC Swarray testified that he recognized the defendant and recalled the events of 1st December 2024. On that date, while in custody at the Congowater Police Post in Freetown, a woman named Angel brought Massaquoi to the police post. Angel alleged that she had entrusted a bag containing chains worth seventy-eight thousand Leones to the defendant.
Upon interrogation, the defendant admitted to the allegation and informed the police that the bag contained drugs. In response, DPC Swarray, together with DPC 14000 Koroma O, DPC 7891 Marrah I, and other officers, proceeded to search the defendant’s residence. During the search, they discovered a bag containing another plastic bag with three chains of dry substance suspected to be kush at the defendant’s premises. The search warrant was endorsed, and all parties signed it, dated 1st December 2024.
At the police station, Inspector Kargbo wrote a comprehensive report dated 2nd December 2024. The defendant was interviewed and provided a voluntary caution statement in Krio, which was recorded in English. The statement was read over to the defendant, who admitted that it was true and correct. The defendant affixed his right-hand thumbprint, and the statement was signed by the investigator as the recorder.
Following the investigation, the matter was transferred to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) upon advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). On 19th December 2024, an additional voluntary caution statement was obtained from the defendant using the same procedure.
On 8th January 2025, the defendant was formally charged and stood trial. All statements were produced and tendered in court as part of the official records.
The defendant was not legally represented and did not cross-examine the witness. The defense counsel stated that this was the case for the prosecution.
In his ruling, Magistrate Jah determined that the prosecution had provided sufficient evidence to warrant the committal of the matter to the High Court. As a result, he ordered that the case be transferred to the High Court for trial, and the defendant was denied bail.