Forensic expert testifies against police officers
October 29, 2015 By Hawa Amara
Forensic expert, Assistant Superintendent of Police Ernestine Dada Tucker, yesterday testified in the matter involving former Inspector Aruna Turay and five others who were allegedly caught with 77 bags and five bundles of cannabis sativa in the Bombali District.
While testifying before Justice Miatta Samba of the Freetown High Court, ASP Tucker told the court that her duties include analyzing different drug materials like fake medicines and suspected liquid.
She said on 11 October, 2014 while at the Sierra Leone Analytical Laboratory, she performed a forensic analysis on dry leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa that were collected from the Transnational Organised Crime Unit at Murray Town.
She said she went to the Transnational Organised Crime Unit where she was handed 77 bags and five bundles of dry leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa by Sergeant 10276 Swarray M.B.
“I took possession of 25 bags out of the 77 bags of the suspected leaves and conveyed them to the laboratory for analysis tests,” she told the court.
According to the witness, three tests were conducted on the leaves in order to produce accurate result, and that two of the tests involved screening and confirmative tests. She stated that all the tests conducted proved that the leaves contained tretrahydro-cannabinor, which is the main active ingredient found in cannabis sativa.
She said on the conclusion of the analysis, the suspected dry leaves were found to be cannabis sativa.
ASP Tucker further told the court that after the findings, she made a report which was signed and dated by her boss and herself. The certificate of the analysis report was tendered as Exhibit N.
The accused persons – Inspector Aruna Turay, Samuel Hallowell (a military officer), Mohamed Dumbuya, Musa Tarawallie, Abu Bakarr Kamara and Santigie Bangura – were arraigned on one count of unlawful procession of cannabis sativa.
According to state counsel A.G.M. Bockarie, the accused persons on 10 October, 2014, in the Bombali District, were found with 77 bags and five bundles of cannabis sativa without lawful authority.
The matter continues.