Umar Mansaray a businessman has made another appearance before Magistrate Augustine Brima Samura of Pademba Road court No.8 on four count charges ranging from possession of a prohibited drug without lawful authority and two count charges ranging from possession of substances used for the manufacturing of drugs without lawful authority.

According to the particulars of offence, on count one and two on the 1st July 2025 at Police checkpoint in Bo, Southern province, was found in possession of prohibited drugs without lawful authority.

Count three further stated that on 22nd July 2025 at Waterloo in the western area of Freetown, was found in possession of precursor chemicals for the manufacturing of drug without lawful authority.

Count four further furthered that on the same date and place, the accused person was found in possession of thirteen transparent plastic containers of precursor chemicals used for the manufacturing of drug without lawful authority.

When the charges were read and explained to the accused person, no plea taken. Inspector Aminata Korio led Prosecution witness number one DPC 13849 Saffia Amara attached to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU). As an investigator, he recognized the accused person in the dock and recalled on 4th August 2025 whilst on duty at the said office, a transferred case of unlawful possession from B/West division was assigned to him for investigation the said case and inquiry file contained the following documents arresting officers report, voluntary caution statement from the accused person, receipt of the case and enquiry file and the said documents were produced and tendered in the court to form part of the court’s records. On the same date, himself together with Inspector Stephen Alpha Turay obtained an additional voluntary caution statement from the accused person in Krio language which was recorded in English language and at the conclusion of the statement it was read over and explained to the accused person which he admitted it to be true and correct by affixing his right hand thumbprint witnessed by the said investigator and he signed as the recorder. The additional caution statement was produced and tendered in the court to form part of the court records. On 22nd August 2025 Inspector Stephen Alpha Turay made request for forensic examination of the exhibit the request was produced and tendered in the court to form part of the court’s records. The witness said based on the intelligence received, search was conducted at Old Motor Road Freetown where other items of police interest were found including Sierra Leonean passports Uruguayan passport, one which bearing the photo of the accused person with name Umar Kallon Mansaray and other exhibits were also discovered at the scene such as precursor chemicals mash mallow leaves and the rest as per the charges. The search warrant was produced and tendered in the court to form part of the court’s records. On the same date DPC 15063 and Inspector Stephen Alpha Turay obtained an additional voluntary caution statement from the accused by using the same procedure as in the previous statement. The additional caution statement from the accused was produced and tendered in the court to form part of the court’s records.

On 25th August 2025, a request was made to Venty the authenticity of the passports to the Immigration Office. The request for the passport was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court’s records. On 27th August 2025, a report was received from the forensic analyst on the same date, the file was sent to the DPP’s office for legal advice. On 29th August 2025, the legal advice from the DPP’s office was received the legal advice was produced and tendered in the court to form part of the court’s records. On 30th August himself, together with Inspector Stephen Alpha Turay charged the accused person with the offence he is standing trial. The charge statement was produced and tendered in the court to form part of the court’s records. The witness was cross examined by Cecilia F Peacock Esq.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Samura refused bail based on the seriousness of the offence charged and adjourned the matter to 8th September 2025.