By Fatima Kpaka
Newton Johnson, an Italian, yesterday made another appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2 for allegedly been found with two compress parcels of cocaine at the Freetown International Airport at Lungi.
The accused person was arraigned on two counts of collection of prohibited drugs without lawful authority and possession of a prohibited drugs contrary to section 8(a) of The National Drugs Control Act of 2008.
The indictment states that accused Newton Johnson on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at the Freetown International Airport was found with two compress parcels of cocaine without lawful authority.
In his testimony, the witness Sergeant 9589 Prince Joe Kpandiara Jabatti who is attached at the Transnational Organised Crime Unit at Hastings recognized the accused person.
He recalled on Thursday, October 10, 2024, when he was on duty when a transfer and enquiry file containing voluntary caution statements of the accused, an arresting officer report, two parcel containing white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine and the accused person were handed over to him for further investigation.
He said he handed over the two parcels of cocaine to the exhibit clerk for safety.
The witness further said that on November 10, 2024, and DPC 13859 Amara S. obtained additional voluntary caution statements from the accused person by observing the judges rules.
The additional caution statements were produced and tendered in court to form part of the court’s record.
He said on November 10, 2024, a written request for analysis and examination of the two compressed parcel was forwarded to the laboratory unit.
The police witness said that on November 12, 2024, the accused person while in their custody was reported sick and police medical report was issue to him for treatment.
He said that on November 16, 2024, the laboratory analyst report was presented to him. The report was produced before the court for identification.
The police witness further said that on November 20, 2024, he charged the accused with the offenses of collecting a prohibited drugs and possession of prohibited drugs without lawful authority.
After the testimony of the witness, Defense Counsel S. L Lewis sought an adjournment to cross-examine the witness.
The accused was remanded in custody and the matter was adjourned to Thursday, November 19, 2024, for cross-examination.