Trial opens in drug case

Trial opened yesterday at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court in the drug case involving one Tostaine Badjan, accused of being in possession of prohibited drug.

Testifying, the first prosecution witness (PW1), Momodou S. Baldeh, after identifying himself as a narcotics officer attached to New Yundum Police Station, said he recognised the accused person.

Officer Baldeh recalled on 28 November 2012, when they acted on information that the accused was in possession of suspected cannabis at a local bar in Lamin Daranka.

On arrival at the said bar, he went on, they found the accused there and they identified themselves to him that they wanted to conduct a search on him, to which the accused complied.

They conducted a search on the accused person and two parcels of suspected cannabis were found in his pocket, officer Baldeh said.

The accused was asked where he lives and he said he did not live within the Lamin area, adding that they escorted him to New Yundum Police Station.

“Investigation led us to where the accused lives in Lamin and the following day, he was escorted to his residence,” Inspector Baldeh stated.

He explained that on arrival at the accused’s residence, they asked him where his house was, but he refused to identify his house to them, adding that the landlord showed them the house of the accused and he confessed to living in that house.

“We entered into the house of the accused together with the accused, and the landlord. During the conduct of the search, one big bundle of suspected cannabis was found in his bedroom,” he revealed.

Six other big bundles were also found in a carton, while seventeen parcels were found concealed in a black plastic bag inside the accused’s bedroom.

He further adduced that the accused was asked about the said suspected cannabis and admitted being the owner, adding that he was escorted back to the station along with the substance where his statement was obtained.

He was interrogated about the source of the said suspected cannabis, and he said he got it by himself from Casamance.

Officer Baldeh narrated that he wrote a statement to that effect.

All the said seven bundles and the 19 parcels of suspected cannabis were tendered in court.

The case was then adjourned till 23 March 2013.