Man arraigned for being in possession of prohibited drug

One Seedu Camara was on 8 May 2012 arraigned before Magistrate Tabally of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court for allegedly being in possession of prohibited drug for trafficking, an allegation he had denied.

Prosecutor ASP Jobe called his first witness to testify against the accused.

In his testimony, Musa Drammeh, after telling the court his name and status as a narcotics officer stationed at Jiboro Border Post, said he knew the accused.

He adduced that on 3 February 2012, around 1500hours while he was on duty with junior officers at Jiboro Border Post, Cadet Papa Jarju and Buba Yabo told him that the accused was caught with 27 big bundles of suspected cannabis, adding that 6 bundles were counted in his presence and an independent witness.

Officer Drammeh further testified that the accused was interrogated and he confessed the 6 bundles were his. Drammeh also said the accused was taken to Mandinaba Police Station, where he was cautioned and charged.

The 6 bundles were concealed in a sugar bag, he explained, adding that the accused was later locked up in cell for the offence.

Prosecutor Jobe asked the witness if he could identify the bundles of cannabis and he answered in the positive. He identified them when it was shown to him. When the prosecutor applied to tender the said bundles, there was no objection from the accused. As a result, the magistrate granted the application.

Under cross-examination by the accused, Seedu Camara put it to the witness that he was brought to him with empty-handed.

The witness said the accused initially ran away and was pursued, and he later confessed being the owner of the 6 bundles.

The accused again put it to the witness that he was apprehended on 20 February 2012 but the witness maintained that he was apprehended on 3 February 2012.

The second witness, Lamin Sanneh, told the court he is a narcotics officer at Mandinaba Police Station, who recognised the accused.

He said he could recall the 3 February 2012.

While narrating the same evidence as the first witness, he said he had recorded the cautionary and voluntary statements in the presence of an independent witness, and the accused later thumb-printed them after he accepted the charge.

He added that the independent witness also signed and the statements were read to the accused in the language he understood.

At this juncture, the prosecutor applied to tender both statements but the accused objected, confirming that he thumb-printed the statements after they were shown to him.

Magistrate Tabally overruled the objection and the statements were accepted by the court as exhibits.

The case was adjourned for continuation of hearing, while the accused was remanded in custody, pending the outcome of the case.

On the same day, another accused person, Kalifa Jatta, was also arraigned before Magistrate Tabally for allegedly being in possession of 3g of heroin, but he had denied the allegation.

The case was adjourned for hearing, and the accused was remanded in custody at Mile 2.