Desmond Charles Bamiedale Frazer, a student and Hannah Alamy, lecturer were on Thursday 4th April 2024 sent to prison by Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road court No1 for unlawful possession of substance used in manufacturing Kush.

The accused made their first appearance in court and were arraigned on 6 counts charges for possession of the lethal substance intended to be used for the manufacturing of drug drugs. They possessed the drug without lawful authority, contrary to section 10(a) of the national drug control act 2008, Act No 10 of 2008.

According to the charge, the first accused Desmond Bamiedale Frazer of 15 Campbell street on Monday 18th December 2023, in Freetown was found in possession of 29 polythene bags weighing 49.3 kilograms of dried leaves used in the manufacturing of drugs, 29 (10) plastic containers of methyl alcohol each weighing 5 liters and 33 plastic containers of propan -2- one- acetone.

The police further alleged that the second accused Hanna Alamy on Monday 18th December 2023, at No19 Mudge Farm in Freetown was found in possession of 29 polythene bags weighing 49.3 kilograms of dried leaves used in the manufacturing of drugs, and with 10 plastic containers of mathyl alcohol each weighing 5 litres and 33 plastic containers of propan-2-one acetone.

When the charges were read and explained to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution witnesses No1 Joseph Stevens led in evidence by CSP Juan Bull said he is  a forensic analyst  attached to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU).

He said  he recalled  Wednesday 20 December 2023, and was on duty when detective sergeant 8310 Kanu L H attached at TOCU handed over to him 33 transparent plastic containers containing liquid substance suspected to be chemical used in manufacturing synthetic  drugs each weighing 5 litres with inscription acetone 99.5% propane 2.1 and also 29 transparent polythene bags containing loose quantities of dried leaves substance suspected to be Kush each weighing 1.7 kilo grams, 10 transparent plastic containers containing liquid substance suspected to be chemical weighing 5 litres each with inscription methyl 99.95% .

The items, he said, were handed over to him for forensic examination and analysis including the written request.

The said request date 20th December 2023 was produced and tendered as exhibits A.

He said upon receipt of the request, he conducted a presumptive examination and analysis in the presence of the accused persons.

After the presumptive analysis, he said, he collected samples from each of the items received and took them to the lab for final examination and analysis.

The examination, analysis and findings, he said, were used into a report. The report was produced and tendered as exhibits respectively to form part of the in prosecution’s case.

Lawyer Madieu Sesay applied for a copy of all the exhibits tendered in court and further applied for bail on behalf of the accused persons, adding that they were put on bail at the police station.

He said the accused persons came to court on their own volition, adding that by record they were not served with any affidavit opposing to bail by the prosecution. Lawyer Sesay said the essence of bail is to assure that the accused persons are in court at any adjourned date, noting that even though the offenses are summary offences but they are weighing the jurisdiction of the magistrate to grant bail pursuant to section 79 sub section 3 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965.

The prosecutor CSP Juan Bull, in response, said they don’t have an affidavit in opposition to bail simply because the matter is a fresh one.

Magistrate Sahr Kekura however;  refused bail due  to the serious nature of the offences charged, noting that the offences are of public interest and the matter was adjourned to 8th April 2024