September 27, 2016 By Hawa Amara
Ten illegal drug peddlers – seven female and three male accused persons – were yesterday remanded at both the Male and Female Correctional Centres after they found selling drugs without licence.
The accused persons – Zainab Kamara, Salieu Momoh Kargbo, Fatmata Kamara, Memunatu Turay, Almamy Mansaray, Gibril Osman Tarawally, Kadiatu Foday Kamara, Kadiatu Kamara, Adamsay Bangura and Isatu Sankoh – were arraigned at the Freetown Magistrates’ Court No.1, presided over by Magistrate Dr. Abou Bhakarr Binneh-Kamara, on ten counts of contravention of requirement under Section 59(1) of the Pharmacy and Drugs Act of 2001.
According to the particulars of offence, the accused persons on Thursday, 22 September, 2016 in Freetown, without licence, were found selling assorted drugs, including Perdicol Extra, Ultrate Crème, Warm-up, Relieve Pain, Dragon Gel, Alvit, Norvagin, V-Min, Emzor and Tetracycline Caps.
All the accused persons pleaded guilty as charged.
Legal Aid lawyer, C. Tucker, in her plea of mitigation, pleaded with the magistrate to temper justice with mercy because the accused persons did not waste the time of the court, and that they have no previous criminal records.
She continues in her plea that the magistrate should forgive the accused persons and put them on bail.
However, Magistrate Dr. Binneh-Kamara remanded the accused persons and adjourned the matter to 3rd October, 2016 for sentencing.
In another development in the same court, Magistrate Dr. Binneh-Kamara also remanded three female accused persons to the female Correctional Centre on Jomo Kenyatta Road.
The accused persons – Aminata Kamara, Dories James and Adama Sesay – were before the court on one count of being found in a place used for smoking cannabis, contrary to law.
According to the particulars of offence, the trio on Thursday, 22 September, 2016 at A.J. Momoh Street in Freetown, were found at a place where people converge to smoke the banned drug.
Magistrate Dr. Binneh-Kamara urged the prosecution to have their witnesses in court at the next adjourned date to expedite the matter.
He ordered that a bench warrant be prepared for the second accused (Fatmata Suma) who was absent in court.
The matter was adjourned to 3 October, 2016.