Charles Udom was again arraigned before magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No2.

He is defending himself on four count charges for collecting some prohibited drugs without lawful authority to doing so.

The crime committed is contrary to section 7 (b) of the National Drug Control Act 2008, and Act No. 10 of 2008, Transporting a Prohibited drug without lawful authority contrary to section 7 (b) of the National Drug Control Act 2008, and Act No. 10 of 2008 for dealing with prohibited drugs without lawful authority.

Contrary to section 7 (c) of the National Drug Control Act 2008, Act No. 10 of 2008 and for possession of  prohibited drug without lawful authority, and contrary to section 8 (a) of the National Drug Control Act 2008, Act No. 10 of 2008.

According to the police charge sheet on Sunday, 23rd March, 2025, at the Freetown International Airport, Lungi, Port Loko District, in the Northern Province of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the accused collected a prohibited drug substance without lawful authority.

Count two stated that on the same date and place, on a transport, a prohibited drug without lawful authority was seen.

Count three further indicated that on the same date and place, the accused dealt with a prohibited drug without lawful authority.

Count four further said  on the same date and place, he was found in possession of twenty -five (25) pellets of cocaine without lawful authority.

When the charges were read and explained to the accused person no plea was taken.

The state prosecutor  was Sergeant 8811 Wilson F.M.

The lead in witness number one Sahr Sundu detective sergeant 19859 attached at the Transnational Organized Crime Unit at the Hastings Police Station as an Investigator said he recalled on the 21st March 2025, while on duty a case was transferred over an unlawful substance suspected to be cocaine seen from the Lungi International Airport.

Sahr revealed that the volutary statement from the accused person backed with the cocaine as exhibit was assigned to him.

It was assigned to him for further investigation on the same date as he handed over the said exhibit together with sergeant 9589 JabatI J BK who obtained statement from the accused person.

And Detective police sergeant 9589 J B K questioned and cautioned the accused person in Krio as he recorded that in English.

He further said that at the end of the statement he read it over and over explained to the accused person in Krio which he admitted to be true and correct by affixing his right handthumb print and he signed as the recorder which he now wants to tender in court.

The voluntary statements was marked as Exhibit Al-10.

Exhibit B1-5. Exhibit C1-2.

Sundu mentioned that on the 24th March, 2025 a written request was submitted to the forensic analysis in other to conduct a report on the said exhibit to ascertain and produce for identification marked as “Z”.

He went on to say that on the 26th March, 2025, he received a report on the forensic report analysis marked as YI-2, and on the 2nd April, 2025, he charged the  accused person with the following offences. They include: collecting prohibited drugs without lawful authority, transportating  prohibited drugs without lawful authority, dealing with prohibited drugs without lawful authority and the possession of prohibited drugs with unlawful authority.

The witness was cross-examined by Defense Counsel A.H Navo Esq and he applied for bail on behalf of the accused person.