By Joseph S. Margai in Freetown, Sierra Leone
Magistrate Albert Moody of Freetown Magistrates’ Court No.1 has on recently sentenced two men, Sulaiman Koroma and James Koroma, who were allegedly found in possession of cannabis sativa (diamba), to ten years imprisonment or a fine of Le8m (1,066.67usd) each.
After completing a preliminary investigation, the two convicts were found guilty of unlawfully possessing cannabis sativa contrary to section 48 (1) of the Pharmacy and Drugs Act of 2001. According to the particulars of offence, the first accused person, Sulaiman Koroma, on May 13, 2017, at Rent checkpoint, Hill-side Bye-Pass Road in Freetown, was found in possession of six kilograms of cannabis sativa without lawful authority. The sentencing took place on Tuesday November 21, 2017.
The second accused person, James Koroma on Tuesday May 13, 2017 at No. 15 Taylor Street, Bolima in the outskirt of Waterloo, was found in possession of five and half bags of cannabis sativa weighed on hundred and fifty-two (152) kilograms without lawful authority.
In another matter, Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of Sierra Leone, Selvina Bell Esq., also testified before Magistrate Hannah Bonnie of Court No.2, barrister in an ongoing car theft matter involving one Samuel John.
Samuel John was before the court on two count charges of larceny and malicious damage contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
According to the police, that the accused on Thursday 26th October, 2017, at No.148 Circular Road, stole one blue-coloured RAV4 Jeep with registration number AJV 005 valued at eighty-six thousand, nine hundred United States Dollars (USD86,900) equivalent to thirty-six million, five hundred and twenty thousand Leones property of Isata Kemoh Bell.
It was also alleged that the accused person also maliciously damaged one left side rear door mirror value three hundred and fifty thousand Leones and a dashboard property of Isata Kemoh Bell.
Selvina Bell Esq. told the court that on the date of the incident, at around 12am to 2am she was at a junction between Mend Street and Duke Street inside a car where she saw a lady in the middle of the road who later shouted that they’ve seen a thief.
“When I heard the lady shouting, I went home to check because I was not sure if the back door to my house was properly closed but I saw people running to the other side of the Street,” she told the court.
According to her, she returned to her car and later received a phone from her sister-in-law who informed her that someone had attempted to steal her car.
She further explained that when she arrived at the scene of crime, she saw some people who caught the accused person, adding that she was later told how the accused person attempted to steal the vehicle.
Bell Esq. stated that she went to where the car was packed and later discovered that the back glass of the vehicle was damaged, the front door opened and the cable of wheel on the driver’s seat was tampered with.
She said she later reported the matter to Central Police station where a statement was obtained from her. However, the accused person had been granted bail to the sum of twenty million Leones (Le20m) and one surety in like sum.
The matter was prosecuted by Sergeant 678 Kadie Sherriff and adjourned for further hearing.
