By Janet A. Sesay
The accused, Abdul Farama yesterday, made another appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2 in Freetown and was sentenced to five years imprisonment or pay a fine of Two Thousand New Leones to the consolidated fund at the judiciary of Freetown.
Farama was arraigned before the court on three count charges, ranging from possession of prohibited drugs, dealing in prohibited drugs and selling prohibited drugs without lawful authority.
The indictment stated that Farama on Thursday, 12th December 2024 at No.10 Ansley Street, Fourah Bay Road in Freetown, was found in possession of three packets of tramadol without lawful authority. The charge sheet furthered that Farama on the same day and place, was dealing and selling prohibited drugs without lawful. The accused after the charges were read and explain to him pleaded guilty of the offense.
In that regard, the Prosecutor, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Juan M.S. Bull led in evidence DPC 13682 John Umaru attached to the Crime Writers Office at the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) at Hastings. He explained that his duties include the registration of exhibits brought to the Station and to tender same in court when requested.
Witness Umaru recalled the 12th December, 2024 adding that he was on duty when Sergeant 9589 Jabatti P.J.K. brought three packets of tramadol and fiscal cash that amounted to Eighty-three Thousand and Thirteen New Leones. He maintained that the three packets of the tramadol were taken for forensic analysis and the said exhibits were registered in the Court Exhibit Book against the Serial Number: 195/2024. He therefore produced the said exhibits and tendered them in court to form part of the court records.
The accused person was represented by Lawyer Boyze Kamara and made plea mitigation on behalf of his client by on grounds that he is a first-time offender and has been in custody since 12th December 2024. He stated that his client has learnt his lessons, and that he did not waste the court’s time by pleading guilty to the charges.
The Defense Counsel pleaded with the Magistrate not to pose custodian sentence on his client, pointing out that as responsible husband, his wife is heavily pregnant and also has a serious medical condition that would require his client as the husband to be closer to her. He maintained that the physical cash that was found with the accused was cash contributions from family members for a funeral.
The accused, in his allocutus, pleaded with the Magistrate to temper justice with mercy on him.
Consequently, Magistrate Bangura ruled that considering that the accused person is a first-time offender, he sentenced him to pay a fine of Two Thousand New Leones or he serve five years imprisonment on all count charges. He ordered that the money found on the accused be returned to him.