By: Audrey Raymonda John
A 22-year-old youth, Alie Bockarie, made his first appearance before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown. He is facing trial on a charge of possessing a prohibited drug without lawful authority, in violation of Section 8(a) of the National Drug Control Act 2008 (Act No. 10 of 2008).
According to the particulars of the offence, on Monday, March 17, 2024, at the Regent Car Wash Area in Freetown, Bockarie was found in possession of thirty (30) wraps of krush without lawful authority.
When the charge was read and explained to the accused, no plea was taken.
State Prosecutor A.B.N. Taylor Kamara Esq. presented the first prosecution witness, Manju, a Police Constable (15063), who is attached to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU). PW1 testified that he recognized the accused in the dock and recalled that on Monday, May 25, 2024, a case and inquiry file involving the accused was handed over to him by Inspector Steven A. Turay.
The file contained several documents, including witness statements dated May 25, 2024, the accused’s voluntary caution statement dated May 26, 2024, the arresting officer’s report dated May 26, 2024, the forensic analyst’s report dated March 31, 2024, and advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) dated May 22, 2024.
On the same day, PW1, together with Inspector Turay, cautioned and questioned the accused in Krio. The accused responded in Krio, and his statement was subsequently recorded in English. After the questioning, the statement was read and explained to the accused in Krio, and he admitted that the statement was true and correct by affixing his right-hand thumbprint, with Inspector Turay as the witness and PW1 as the recorder. The charge statement was submitted to the court as Exhibit F1-2.
Magistrate Jah ordered that the accused be remanded at the Male Correctional Center and adjourned the case to September 10, 2025.