By sulaiman.sesay@awokonewspaper.sl
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – In an ongoing preliminary investigation involving the alleged possession of the prohibited drug “kush,” the police have submitted a formal charge statement as part of the legal proceedings. The accused, Mohamed Koroma, appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Ross Road Court No. 1, facing two counts of charges related to the unlawful possession of cannabis sativa.
The police report reveals that on May 1, 2023, at No. 115 Bai Bureh Road in Kissy, Freetown, the accused, Mohamed Koroma, was apprehended and found to be in possession of thirty-four wraps of “kush,” weighing a total of 12.5 grams. This possession was deemed to be without lawful authority under the law.
Despite the charges leveled against him, the accused entered a plea of not guilty.
The second prosecution witness, DPC 11443 Juliet Mattia, provided her testimony during the proceedings. Recalling events from May 1, 2023, DPC Mattia stated that she was on duty when the Anti-drugs Unit apprehended the accused and brought both him and the seized 34 wraps of “kush” to the station. She recounted that the investigation was assigned to her, leading to the formulation of charges against the accused for the unlawful possession of prohibited drugs.
DPC Mattia then presented and tendered the charge statement as evidence in the courtroom.
Lacking legal representation, the accused refrained from cross-examining the witness during the proceedings. As a result, Magistrate Kekura remanded the accused in custody. The case is scheduled for further hearing on August 16, 2023. SKS/10/8/2023