By Jeneba A.Conteh
Haja Safinatu Conteh, Alpha Kargbo, Ibriham Collier Hazeley, Mohamed Nabieu and Santigie Turay, all members of the Sierra Leone Police, made their first appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of the Pademba Road Court No.1 in Freetown.
All accused persons were on Friday, November 25, 2022,taken to court for allegedly being in possession of cannabis sativa, Kush and tramadol, at the police training school, Hastings in Freetown.
The accused were charged with six counts of unlawful possession of cannabis sativa, Kush and tramadol, all contrary to Section 48 (1) of the Pharmacy and Drugs Act of 2001.
After the charges were put before the first, Second, third,and fifth accused persons, they pleaded guilty,while the fourth accused person, Santigie Turay, pleaded not guilty to the offenses charged.
The charge sheet indicated that the first accused, Haja Safinatu Conteh on Tuesday 8 November, 2022, at SILEA campus, police training school, Hastings, was found in possession of two hundred and twenty-six (226) wraps of cannabis sativa, contained in a black plastic bag weighing 20 grams without lawful authority.
The charge sheet further stated that the second accused, Alpha Kargbo, on the same day and place, was found in possession of ten (10) wraps of Kush contained in a medical sachet weighing 0.4 grams, without lawful authority and was also found in possession of six tablets of tramadol also contained in a medical sachet weighing 0.2 grams without lawful authority.
Also, the charge sheet indicates that Ibrahim Collier Hazeley, was also found in possession of one wrap of cannabis sativa weighing 0.4 grams without lawful authority and Santigie Turay was also found in possession of one wrap of cannabis sativa weighing 0.4 grams, whiles Mohamed Nabieu was found in possession of one wrap of Kush weighing 0.2 gram without lawful authority.
Police prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Ibriham Mansaray, told the court that since the first, second, third, and fifth accused persons pleaded guilty, he will issue a subpoena for the exhibit clerk to come to court and tender the exhibits before the court.
Defense counsel S. Sankoh representing the fourth accused person, Santigie Turay, made bail application for him, but Magistrate Mark Ngegba refused bail and adjourned the matter to the 5th December 2022 for further hearing.
