22-Year-Old Man Remanded For 30 Wraps Of Kush

By Fatmata Mohamed Bangura
22-year-old Alie Bockarie made his first appearance before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at Pademba Road Court No. 1.
He was arraigned for possession of a prohibited drug without lawful authority, contrary to Section 8(a) of the National Drug Control Act 2008 (Act No. 10 of 2008).
According to the particulars of the offence, on Monday, 31stMarch 2024, at Regent Car Wash Area, Freetown in the Western Area of Sierra Leone, the accused was found in possession of thirty (30) wraps of Kush without lawful authority.
When the charge was read and explained, no plea was taken.
State Prosecutor A.B.N Taylor Kamara led in PW1, Musa Manju, Police Constable 15063, attached to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU). PW1 stated that he recognized the accused in the dock and recalled that on Monday, 25th May 2024, while on duty, a case and inquiry file regarding the accused was handed over to him by Inspector Steven A. Turay.
The file contained witness statements dated 25th May 2024, the accused’s voluntary caution statement dated 26th May 2024, the arresting officer’s report dated 26th May 2024, the forensic analyst’s report dated 31st March 2024, and advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) dated 22nd May 2024.
On the same day, PW1, together with Inspector Turay, cautioned and questioned the accused in Krio. The accused responded in Krio, which was recorded in English. At the conclusion of the questioning, the statement was read and explained to him in Krio, which he admitted to be true and correct by appending his right-hand thumbprint, witnessed by Inspector Turay, while PW1 signed as the recorder. The charge statement was produced and tendered in court as Exhibit F1-2.
Magistrate Jah ordered the remand of the accused at the Male Correctional Center and adjourned the matter to 10th September 2025.