The Judiciary of Sierra Leone Communications Unit, Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown, 28th November 2025: The Hon. Justice Mark Ngegba has sentenced Mohamed Dumbuya – an OSD Officer to twenty-five years (25) imprisonment after being convicted on one count of unlawful possession of drugs contrary to Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act of 2008, Act No. 10 of 2008.
Arraigned before the court, the convict pleaded not guilty as charged, as alleged by the prosecution that they found in his possession 50.0 grams of kush without lawful authority.
Justifying their case, the prosecution called two witnesses. Prosecution witness number one (PW1) was Joseph Stevens, a forensic specialist attached to the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU), with duties to analyse drugs and other chemical substances submitted to him for analysis and expert opinion.
He testified that on the 11th of March, 2024, he received a laboratory request from Detective Sergeant 8602 Kelfala A. K. to analyse substances of ninety-three (93) wraps of dried leaves suspected to be kush, weighing 50.0 grams and a loose quantity of dried leaves suspected to be kush, weighing 50.0 grams, which was allegedly seized from the Defendant.
He noted that forensic tests were conducted on the substances, and they turned to be kush.
Testifying, prosecution witness number two (PW2), Prince Joe Kpandiwa Jabati, a Detective Police Sergeant attached to TOCU, said on the 11th March 2024, he received a case file bearing the Defendant’s name for further investigation. He noted that an investigation was conducted, and it was proven that there was compelling evidence for the matter to be charged in court.
Delivering his judgment, Hon. Justice Mark Ngegba said the prosecution has presented to the court enough evidence that what was found on defendant’s possession was drugs and that the defendant failed to discharge the burden of proving that the prohibited substance was lawfully in his possession, pursuant to Section 17 of the National Drugs Control Act, 2008.
Hon. Justice Mark Ngegba said the prosecution has proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and the defendant has been found guilty as charged; he was therefore convicted and sentenced to twenty-five (25) years’ imprisonment.
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