Hussein & Jamal Antar Detained For Importation Of Chemical Weapons
By Fatmata Mohamed Bangura
Hussein Antar, Jamal Antar and Sulaiman Barrie have appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2 for allegedly providing funds for the transportation of chemical weapons without license.
They were arraigned before the court on Thirty (30) count charges ranging from conspiracy, providing funds for the transportation of chemical weapons, providing funds for the stockpiling of chemical weapons, importation of arms manufacturing material without valid license, possession of arm manufacturing material, having in custody of arms manufacturing, aiding and abetting the commission of an offence, importation and transportation of prohibited drug and perverting the course of justice all contrary to law.
The charge sheet indicated that Hussein Antar a business man, Jamal Antar unemployed, and Sulaiman Barrie a business man on diverse days between the 1st October 2023 and the 9th July 2024, conspired with other persons unknown to commit an offence by providing funds for the transportation of chemical weapons (bomb-making materials) without licenses.
The indictment further stated that Hussein Antar on a date unknown between 11th November 2023 and 9th July 2024 at Freetown, provided funds to Samuel Marrah for the unlawful transportation of Chemical Weapons from Queen Elizabeth II Quay to a house at Madina Community Waterloo.
Police further alleged that Hussein Antar, Jamal Antar and Suliaman Barrie, on diverse days between the 1st October 2023 and 30th November 2023 conspired together to commit a crime by importation of Arms Manufacturing Material into Sierra Leone without License.
That the accused persons on a date unknown between the 11th November 2023, and 7th July 2024 at Freetown, had in their possession Arms Manufacturing Material in Sierra Leone without a valid license.
The charge sheet further that the accused Jamal Antar and Suliaman Barrie on diverse dates between 1st October 2023 and 7th July 2024 at Freetown, aided and abated Hussein Antar and other persons unknown to import into Sierra Leone bomb-making materials without license and also stockpile in Sierra Leone bomb-making materials without license.
The charge sheet further that Jamal Antar and Suliaman Barrie on diverse dates between the 1st October 2023 and the 7th July 2024 at Freetown, aided and abated Hussein Antar and other persons unknown to import into Sierra Leone a huge quantity of prohibited drugs without lawful authority and also aided and abated Hussein Antar to transport to Sierra Leone a huge quantity of prohibited drugs without lawful authority.
The charge sheet further that the accused persons between the 1st October 2023, and the 30th November 2023 conspired together to import a huge quantity of prohibited drugs without lawful authority and that Hussein Antar on a date unknown between the 1st October 2023 and the 11th November 2023 imported a prohibited drug into Sierra Leone without lawful authority.
The charge sheet further stated that Hussein Antar on a date unknown between 11th November 2023 and the 9th July 2024 at Freetown, transported a prohibited drug from the Queen Elizabeth II Quay in Freetown to 93 Smart Farm, Off-Wilkinson Road, Freetown without lawful authority.
The charge sheet continued that the accused persons on a date unknown between the 11th November 2023 and 9th July 2024 in Freetown, had in their possession prohibited drug without lawful authority and also well knowing the circumstances leading to the importation of bomb-making material into Sierra Leone, fabricate evidences with intent to pervert the course of justice.
The charges were read and explained to the accused persons and no plea was taken.
Meanwhile Magistrate Bangura refused bail base on the public consideration and weight of the charges and the matter was adjourned to the 4th September 2024.
