Relatives and friends broke down in tears as Justice Browne Marke ordered police officials to clear the court before the convicts are taken out.
They waved tearful goodbye’s as the convicts themselves determined to show a brave face waved back and gave the thumbs up sign, apparently to indicate that they were alright. Some could however not maintain the brave face as they also broke down in tears as they descended the steps from the court to the waiting prison vehicle.
The sentencing of the 15 cocaine convicts was handed down yesterday by presiding Judge Nicholas Brown Marke at the High court of Sierra Leone.
Out of 18 accused that were brought to court on six counts indictment of cocaine related offences, three were earlier freed for lack of sufficient evidence against them.
The indictments ranged from importation of cocaine without legal authority, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of cocaine contrary to section 8 of the National Drug Act of 2008 and knowingly and willfully displaying a false mark on an aircraft.
After four Months on trial the fifteen accused persons were found guilty, fined and sentenced to various jail terms. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd accused: George Arititizabel Archilo, Victor Manuel Araujo Lastreto and Julio Cesar Morales-Cruz were all found guilty on counts 1,4,5 and 6 and were each fined the total sum of $US4 million dollars and 5 years imprisonment.
The 4th accused: Mohamed Bashil Sesay aka Ahmed Sesay was found guilty on count four of the indictment and he was fined the sum of Le300 Million Leones and five years imprisonment.
8th accused: Harvey Steven Perez was found guilty on counts two and five and was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and fined the sum of $US5 Million. 9th accused: Yeimy Fernandez Leandro was fined 2 million dollars and serve a jail term of 5 years. The 10th accused: Gerado Quistana Perez was jailed for 5 years and fined the sum of $US3 Million while the 11th and 16th accused: Alex Romeo and Sadjo Sarr were each sentenced to five years imprisonment and fined the sum of $US1.5 Million dollars.
The 7th accused (Chernor Momodu Bah), 12th accused (Ibrahim Mohamed Manley), and 15th accused (Alimamy Kabia) were all sentenced to five years jail term and fined the sum of Le150 Million Leones.
The 6th accused, Patrick Moriba Johnson was sentenced to two years imprisonment and fined the sum of Le25 Million Leones while the 18th accused Mohamed Musa Kamara was sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined the sum of Le50 Million Leones.
In total the 8 foreign nationals were fined 24.5 million dollars while the 7 Sierra Leoneans were fined in total 925 million leones or about 300 thousand dollars.
According to the sentencing Presiding Judge Justice Brown Marke gave the following orders after he made the judgement:
Firstly, all accused persons have the right to appeal against their sentences and fines through their lawyers within 21 days.
Secondly, The Director of Public prosecution should make necessary arrangements for the confiscated cocaine to be destroyed within 48 hours.
Thirdly, the judge made a recommendation for the expulsion of all convicted foreign nationals provided the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs wishes to do so. Fourthly that all monies found with the convicts during the time of their arrest be used in favour of the fines they are asked to pay.
Fifthly, the aircraft that was used to transport the cocaine into Sierra Leone be released to the Director of Civil Aviation and arrangements should be made to sell the said aircraft to the highest bidder.
An emergency press conference was called by defence lawyers immediately after the judgement.
The defence team clearly stated that they are opposed to their convicted clients serving their jail terms outside the sovereignty territory of Sierra Leone.
Surrounded by defence lawyers Easmon Ngaqui, S.K. Koroma, James Fonnah-Sesay and S.A.J. Jamiru, Crispin Fio Edwards lead defence lawyer and president of the Bar Association reacted to rumours circulating that three of the convicts will be taken to America to serve their jail terms.
He said even the foreigners that have been convicted are totally against their extradition to any country.
“Those people committed crimes in Sierra Leone and they have been tried in Sierra Leone, they should also serve their jail terms in Sierra Leone” he stated.
He also maintained that it will be a violation of the rights of the accused and a degradation to the country’s judicial system if these convicts are allowed to be taken out of Sierra Leone.
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