By Janet Sesay
Stanley Oluchi Ozoho, on Tuesday 7th August 2018, made his second appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Court No.1 for allegedly importing 5kilograms of heroin from Mozambique to Sierra Leone without lawful authority.
The first prosecution witness in the matter, Detective Sergeant 9494 Bangura Mohammed, exhibit clerk, Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU),Hastings,told the court that his duty is to receive and ensure safe keeping of all exhibits brought to TOCU in respect of cases being investigated and subsequently charged to court.
The witness noted that he recalled the 30th June 2018. He said whiles on duty at TOCU, Hastings, one Inspector Mansaray A. brought in the following exhibits, which include 5kg of heroin envelop, two (2)Nigerian passports with serial numbersA08856874 and A04270069 bearing the name of the accused, one Kenya Airwaystravelling ticket, dated 29 June 2018,one boarding pass, dated 29th June 2018 and one vaccination card, all belonging to the accused.
He said he then took possession of the said exhibits and registered them in the court register book against serial No. 10/2018. He said, since then, he further noted they have been in his custody, which he tendered in court as exhibits in the ongoing matter.
Ernestine Tucker, forensic analyst officer of the Sierra Leone Police, also testified, noting that that her duty is to collect samples presented to her by the exhibit clerk, analyze them and give report.
She said on the 30th June 2018, whiles on duty at the Transnational Organized Crime Unit, Hasting,the exhibit clerk handed over to her a parcel containing white powder substance. She told the court that she took the substance to the laboratory room and weighed it. The substance weighed 5kg.
She said she further took some samples for testing at the Connaught Hospital laboratory, where she conducted two tests, which are presumptive and confirmative tests.
She explained that, in her findings and conclusions, the said substance contained diacetylmorphine, which is an active ingredient found in the substance. This, according to her, indicates that the substance is heroin.
She said she reduced her findings in the form of a report and that report was tendered in court as Exhibit L1-L2.
The accused was arraigned before Magistrate Bangura onthree counts charges of conspiracy to commit an offence, to wit importation of a prohibited drug, to wit heroin, contrary to section 15 of the National Drugs Control Act of 2008 and importation of prohibited drugs, to wit heroin, contrary to section 7(b) of the National Drug Control Act of 2008.
Court details state that the accused, on diverse dates between Friday 15th September 2017 and Friday 29th June 2018 at the Freetown International Airport, Lungi, conspired together with other persons unknown to import prohibited drugs, to wit heroin, from Mozambique to Sierra Leon.
Also the accused, on the 14th September 2017 at the Airport, imported five kilograms of heroin from Mozambique to Sierra Leone without lawful authority.
Defense Counsel J.M. Jengo said he will cross-examine the witness on the next adjourned date.
The matter was adjourned to the 14th August 2018.