By Fatima Kpaka
Kumba Mansaray, Zainab Kamara and five others were on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, sent to both Female and male correctional facility by Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Court No1 for unlawful possession of quantity of “Kush” (K2) without lawful authority.
The accused persons Kumba Mansaray, Zainab Kamara, Ibrahim Sorie Bangura, Magdalene Barrie, Sadistic Conteh, Abu bakarr Sankoh and Messie Jusu are arraigned on three counts of unlawful possession of kush contrary to section 8(a) of the national drugs control Act 2008; being found at a place used for smoking Kush contrary to section 49(a) of the Pharmacy and Drug Act 2008 and other related charge.
According to count one, the first accused Kumba Mansaray on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at No 8 Regent Road, Lumley in Freetown, was found in possession of 31 wraps of Kush weighing 15.4 grams without lawful authority.
The police further alleged on count two that the second accused Zainab Kamara on the same date and place was found in possession of 9 wraps of Kush weighing 10.5 grams without lawful authority.
Whiles Ibrahim Sorie Bangura, Magdalene Barrie, Kadiatu Conteh, Abubakarr Sankoh and Messie Jusu on the same date and place were found in a place used for smoking Kush.
When the charges were read and explain to first and second accused persons, they did not take their plea because they were charge with a summary offence.
The third, fourth, fifth and sixth accused pleaded guilty to the offences of being found in a place used for smoking Kush while the seventh accused pleaded not guilty.
Lawyer H Thullah represented the first and second accused.
Lawyer S. Saa and M. Vandy represented the third, fourth, fifth and sixth accused persons, while B. G Koroma represented the seventh accused.
The prosecutor ASP Dahlia Wellington requested an adjournment to present the exhibit in court.
Magistrate Ngegba however, remanded all the accused persons. The matter comes up again for hearing September 1, 2023.