Abdul Kamara alias Bigitel, Ishmail Koroma what is a teacher and one Sallieu Bangura are presenting standing trial before Justice Alhaji Momoh Jah Stevens at NASSIT Court in Freetown for allegedly being found in possession of quantities of Kush, cannabis sativa weighing 15.8 grams, possessing it without lawful authority to doing so.

During yesterday’s proceedings, when the matter was mentioned in the court, all three accused persons were not before the courtroom and even their sureties were also not present in court.

The accused were granted bail by the learned judge on humanitarian grounds being raised by defense counsel Claudius Campbell.

Justice Stevens said that he got information that the first accused Bigitel had wanted to leave the jurisdiction and that was why he and his sureties did not show up.

Because of their absence, the learned judge issued a bench warrant for all the accused and their sureties.

He further ordered that the house of Bigitel situated at NO. 3D Kamanda Farm Mamba

Ridge, Kissy in Freetown, should be confiscated to the state and the tenants should be evicted with immediate effective until he appeared before the court.

Justice Stevens further ordered the bailiffs at the Undersheriff Office to effectively empower and enforce the said Order.

The matter was adjourned to the 21st March 2025.

The accused were arraigned before the court on 7 count charges ranging from possession of prohibited drugs without lawful authority.

The indictment stated that the accused on Saturday 23rd September 2023 at Mamba Ridge Kissy in Freetown, were found with in possession of 181 wraps of kush weighing 20.0 grams without lawful authority and were also found with in possession of 278 wraps of kush weighing 152.6 grams without lawful authority.

The indictment further said the accused persons were found with in possession of 66 sachets of kush weighing 20.5 grams and 76 wraps of cannabis sativa weighing 25.6 grams without lawful authority.

The indictment further said that the accused persons were also found with  in possession of loose quantity of cannabis sativa weighing 15.8 grams, high risk drug, one sachet of ecstasy weighing 20.2 grams and eight sachet of kush weighing 17.6 grams without lawful authority.

The accused were granted bail with one surety for each.

The magistrate further said that each of the sureties must sign a bail bond of NLe 50,000 each, not to be paid but as a guarantee.

The learned judge further said that each of the surety must be a holder of an authentic national identification card issued by the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA).