By Janet A. Sesay
Alpha Marrah has been remanded in custody by Hon. Justice Mark Ngegba of High Court No. 8 in Freetown after the prosecution tendered drug exhibits in the ongoing case against him involving the alleged possession and dealing of cannabis sativa weighing 1.5 kilograms.
Marrah made another appearance before the court on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, and maintained his not guilty plea to two counts of unlawful possession of prohibited drugs contrary to Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act, 2008, and dealing in prohibited drugs contrary to Section 7(c) of the same Act.
The prosecution alleged that on 30 December 2025, at Moa Wharf Community in Freetown, the defendant was found in possession of one and a half parcels of cannabis sativa containing Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), weighing 1.5 kilograms, without lawful authority.
The State further alleged that on the same date, the defendant was found dealing in prohibited drugs without lawful authority.
Led in evidence by State Counsel, A. Jalloh, Detective Police Constable 13682 John Umaru testified that he is attached to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit, where his duties include the registration of case and enquiry files, the custody of exhibits, and tendering exhibits in court when required.
Witness Umaru stated that on 31 December 2025, while on duty at the station, the Crime Officer, Detective Inspector Joseph Steven, brought to his office two and a half black polythene bags containing dry leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa, as well as 202 wraps of dry leaves also suspected to be cannabis sativa.
He further testified that samples of the substance were sent for forensic examination and that the exhibits were registered in the court exhibit book as Exhibit No. 23/2025. He added that the exhibits have remained in police custody since then.
The exhibits were subsequently tendered before the court and admitted as part of the prosecution’s case.
At the conclusion of his examination-in-chief, Defence Counsel M.K. Dauda of the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board cross-examined the witness.
During cross-examination, Umaru stated that he received the exhibits on 31 December 2025 and confirmed that they had remained in police custody for approximately five months. He further testified that upon receiving the exhibits, he examined, labeled, and stored them in a designated location.
Following the witness’s testimony, Hon. Justice Mark Ngegba ordered that he be remanded in custody until 17th June 2026 for the continuation of the trial.