AYV News, December 10, 2025
High Court Judge, Honourable Justice Mark Ngegba has sentenced Umar Mansaray to twenty-five years imprisonment after being convicted for unlawful possession of 30.5 grams of Kush without lawful authority contrary to Section 8 (a) of the National Drugs Control Act of 2008, Act No. 10 of 2008.
The convict was arraigned before the court on four counts charges ranging from unlawful possession of drugs to unlawful possession of substances used for the manufacturing of drugs contrary to Section 10 (a) of the National Drugs Control Act 2008, Act No. 10 of 2008.
The defendant, upon his arraignment pleaded not guilty to the offences charged. The prosecution claimed that the defendant on the 1st of July 2025 at Bo in the Southern Region of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the Defendant was found in possession of 10.5 and 20.0 grams of Kush respectively without lawful authority.
To prove their case as required by law, State prosecutor Aruna Jalloh Esq. led in evidence Detective Police Constable (DPC) 133849 Saffia Amara attached at the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) as an investigator. He informed the court that on 4th of July 2025, he was given a transferred case file from the Bo West Police Division for further investigation.
They went on to state that during the search, they discovered precursor chemicals and marshmallow leaves used in the production of narcotic drugs. He added that a voluntary caution statement was obtained from the convict, and he acknowledged that the substance was found in his possession.
Inspector Steven Alpha Turay also attached at the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) testified that he submitted eleven transparent polyethylene bags containing dried leaves substances suspected to be Kush weighing 30.5 grams that was seized from the defendant Umar Mansaray of 56 Pademba Road, Freetown. He further maintained that the test results from the forensic expert revealed that the substances caught in the possession of the convict were Kush.
The Defendant when put to his election after the close of the Prosecution’s cases relied on his statement at the police.
Delivering his judgement, Hon. Justice Mark Ngegba said the convict admitted that he was in possession of 30.5 grams of Kush but was unable to prove before the court that he had the legal right to be in possession of the prohibited substance pursuant to law.
He noted that the prosecution has proven their case beyond all reasonable doubt, which is the required standard, and the accused is their found guilty as charged.
In his plea mitigation, Defence Lawyer. C. I. Williams told the court that the convict is a foreign national, a father, and a principal caregiver and therefore pleaded with the judge to take his plea into consideration when sentencing the convict.
State Counsel A. Jalloh argued that the nature of the crime is serious and the act of the convict has damaged hundreds of the country’s youths with some even losing their lives in the process.
Sentencing the convict, Hon. Justice Mark Ngegba said based on the fact that the prosecution had provided sufficient evidence which warrants a guilty verdict against the convict for which he sentenced him to twenty five years imprisonment.
