Kush Possession Allegations: Contractor and Businessman Behind Bars
In a recent court appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown, twenty-five-year-old Mohamed Lamin Conteh, a contractor, and thirty-two-year-old Osman Jalloh, a businessman, faced two charges related to the unlawful possession of Kush under section 8 (a) of the National Drugs Control Act 2008, No.10 of 2008.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Friday 3rd May 2024, at Funkia Goderich in the Western Area of Freetown, the first accused was found in possession of seventy (70) wraps of Kush weighing 30.5 grams without lawful authority. The second accused was found in possession of one hundred (100) wraps of Kush weighing 40.5 grams without lawful authority at the same time and place.
Upon being informed of the charges, no plea was taken from the accused persons. The prosecutor, Sergeant 9155 Dwight Macarthy, requested a short adjournment to confer with his witness.
In defence of the accused persons, their counsel, Lawyer A.M.Y Kamoka, applied for bail because the accused are Sierra Leonean residents with reliable sureties who are willing to provide recognisance. He assured the court that the accused would not interfere with prosecution witnesses nor attempt to evade bail, citing section 79 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
Despite the bail application, Magistrate Bangura refused bail based on the gravity of the allegations and remanded the accused persons to the male correctional facility in Freetown. The case was adjourned to the 10th of June 2024.
