Two Foreign Nationals slammed with 30 – years in prison
By Fatima Sesay
Hon. Justice Mark Ngegba, Justice of the High Court in Freetown has sentenced two Tanzania Nationals to 30 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of Cocaine.
The convicts, Hassan Mohamed Juma and Alfai Shabani Mkobela, were charged with one count each of the offence of unlawful possession of drugs contrary to Section 8 (a) of the National Drugs Control Act of 2008, Act No 10 of 2008.
According to the indictment, each defendant on 22nd October 2024 at Lungi in the North-West Region of the Republic of Siera Leone, were each found in possession of 34.9 kilograms of cocaine without lawful authority.
On their arraignment, the 1st defendant pleaded not guilty to count one and the 2nd Defendant pleaded not guilty to count two respectively.
In his plea of mitigation, Lawyer C.I Williams, Counsel representing the convict, appealed to the judge to temper justice with mercy. He noted that the convict is the principal caregiver.
Lawyer A Jalloh prosecuted the matter on behalf of the states.
They both pleaded with the judge to temper justice with mercy.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Mark Ngegba maintained that the standard of proof applied in this case is proof beyond reasonable doubt, and as a matter of basic legal principle by which he is bound, the prosecution had the responsibility to discharge that burden.
He added that there was nothing presented to the court to show that the substance was not cocaine as alleged.
”Considering the foregoing, I hold that the Prosecution has provided sufficient evidence to warrant a guilty verdict against each Defendant. Each Defendant is therefore found guilty of the offence charged”, he ruled. They were both sentenced to 30 years Imprisonment each.
