By Ragan M. Conteh
The country’s Attorney General and Minster of Justice, Lamin Tarawally, confirms the 16 drug importers charged to court.
He said the abuse of drug has become a menace in the society.
He emphasized that the introduction of Kush has exacerbated the youth’s ugly situation in Sierra Leone.
He made the submissions at the town hall meeting organized by the Ministry of Information and Communication at the Bintumani Conference center in Freetown.
He stated that the situation is difficult for every parent, disclosing that the government of Sierra Leone has taken the abuse of drug very seriously and will do all within its powers to address it.
The AG Tarawally admitted that indeed there was a difficulty in charging drug related matter to court as initially they were charging people on the pharmacy law.
He assured that they are now charging matters that have to do with Kush under the National Drug Enforcement Act of 2008.
Most of the matters being charged to court, he said, children and drug peddlers were more involved and that the best they could use is human concession.
They would either or acquit and discharge or ask one to pay fines.
As part of the game, Mr. Tarawally said they are focusing on those importing the grain rather than those taking it.
He said the drug dealers are making ill money out of it.
He affirmed that they are now charging matters that have to do with drug to court under the National Law Enforcement Act of 2008, asserting that the minimum sentence or sentences for law is “five years” imprisonment if found guilty.
Again, he said, there is tendency that the person found guilty he/she can pay fine and at the same time imprisoned.
However, he confirmed that they have charged (16) sixteen people to court who are now undergoing preliminary investigation.
AG Tarawalie assured that they are not charging people based on sentiment, instead based on substantial, not even reasonable evidence to ensure conviction.
He said prison has changed its jail term of sentence or sentences meaning five year runs for five year consecutively, not concurrently as it used to be or count jailed term.
He assured that they are going to review laws to fight against Kush.