By Janet A. Sesay
Andrew Momoh Jah, Daniel Kamara, Zainab Kamara and Thomas Leigh Koroma on Wednesday, 12th March 2025 made another appearance before the Principal Magistrate of the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1, Magistrate Sahr Kekura for alleged manufacturing of prohibited drug (Kush) without lawful authority.
The accused were arraigned before the court on thirteen count charges ranging from manufacturing a prohibited drug without lawful authority, producing a prohibited drug without lawful authority, transporting a prohibited drug without lawful authority, collecting a prohibited drug without lawful authority, supplying a prohibited drug without lawful authority, selling a prohibited drug without lawful authority, dealing in a prohibited drug without lawful authority, possession of a prohibited drug without lawful authority, possession of a substance use for the Manufacturing of a prohibited drug without lawful authority, transporting materials use for production of a prohibited drugs without lawful authority, transporting substances use for the production of a prohibited drugs without lawful authority, keeps a prohibited drug without lawful authority and keeps substance use for the production of prohibited drug without lawful authority.
The charge sheet indicates that the accused persons, on Wednesday, 20th November, 2024 at No. 66 Kanu Drive at Allen Town in Freetown, were found manufacturing Kush without lawful authority and they were also found producing prohibited drug Kush without lawful authority.
The indictment furthered that the accused persons on the same date and place, were found transporting prohibited drug without lawful authority and also collects, supplies, sell, deals, found and transporting prohibited drugs without lawful authority.
The accused persons on the same day were also found in possession of substances used for the Manufacturing of prohibited drugs and were also found transporting materials used for the production of prohibited drugs and they also keeps a prohibited drugs and also keeps substances used for the production of prohibited drug without lawful authority.
Shortly after the matter was mentioned, the witness, Detective Police Constable Saffia Amara attached at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department as an Investigator and was cross-examined by both Defense Counsels: M. S. Bangura and H. M. Gevao on behalf of the accused persons.
Answering to questions posed to him by Defense Counsel M.S. Bangura on behalf of the fourth accused, Thomas Leigh Koroma, he said that during the investigation he was the recorder of the interview and Police Constable 15618 Mandi cautioned and questioned him.
Exhibit F1-18 was shown to the witness which he identified as the statements of Leigh Koroma to the police during investigation.
He said the caution statements was obtained in less than 5 minutes and before commencing the interview they told him that he has right to legal representation.
The witness further answering to questions posed to him by Defense Counsel Bangura said during the interview of Leigh Koroma he recorded exactly what his client said during investigation.
On behalf of the third accused Zainab Kamara, Defense Counsel H.M. Gevao showed the witness Exhibit E1-16 which he said is the voluntary caution statements of Zainab Kamara.
Answering to questions further, witness Amara said the allegations that were put before the accused during investigation is she was found in possession of Kush, chemicals and machines used for production.
He said accused Zainab Kamara denied the allegations levied against her and she told them during investigation that she has stayed at the said house of the alleged manufacture for three months together with her husband.
The witness furthered that accused Zainab Kamara also told them that she is a businesswoman and the monies taken by the police are monies meant for her business.
The witness during the examination furthered that accused Zainab Kamara told the police that the source of her income is from her father and she gave them a cell phone number 088465819 to confirm what she said but the number was unreachable.
The witness said after the conclusion of the matter they found out that the third accused Zainab was not a business woman.
Furthermore, witness Amara in cross-examination by Defense Counsel H.M. Gevao said accused Zainab Kamara told them that she is a student of IPAM College.
At this juncture, the State Prosecutor sought for an adjournment for the next witness to testify.
The matter was adjourned to Tuesday 18 March, 2025 for continuation.