By Emma Black
High Court Judge, has sentenced Umar Mansaray to 25 years imprisonment after Honourable Justice Mark Ngegba, has found guilty of unlawfully possessing 30.5 grams of kush, contrary to Section 8(a) of the national drugs control Act of 2008.
Mansaray had faced four counts, including unlawful possession of drugs and unlawful possession of substances used in drug production, both offenses under the National Drugs Control Act, 2008 (Act No. 10 of 2008), he pleaded not guilty when first arraigned.
According to the prosecution, Mansaray was arrested on 1 July 2025 in Bo, Southern Sierra Leone, with quantities of 10.5 grams and 20 grams of Kush, all without lawful authority.
State Prosecutor Aruna Jalloh Esq. presented key witnesses to establish the case, detective police Constable (DPC) 133849 Saffia Amara, attached to the transnational organized crime unit (TOCU), told the court that he took over the investigation from the Bo West police division on 4 July 2025. He confirmed that a search conducted during the investigation uncovered precursor chemicals and marshmallow leaves commonly used in producing narcotic drugs. Amara also testified that Mansaray voluntarily admitted in his caution statement that the seized substances were in his possession.
Inspector Steven Alpha Turay, also from TOCU, submitted forensic evidence, including eleven transparent polyethylene bags containing dried leaves suspected to be Kush, weighing a total of 30.5 grams. He confirmed that forensic analysis verified the substances as Kush.
After the prosecution closed its case, Mansaray chose to rely on his police statement in his defense. However, in delivering the verdict, Justice Ngegba noted that while the accused admitted possession of the Kush, he failed to provide any lawful justification, as required by law.
Justice Ngegba ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond all reasonable doubt. Mansaray was immediately found guilty on all counts.
In a plea for mitigation, Defense Counsel C. I. Williams urged the court to consider Mansaray’s status as a foreign national, father, and primary caregiver. However, State Counsel A. Jalloh countered that the gravity of the offense and its harmful impact on Sierra Leonean youth demanded a strong sentence, stressing that countless young people have suffered or died due to drug abuse, I n passing judgment, Justice Ngegba emphasized the seriousness of the crime and the sufficiency of the prosecution’s evidence, sentencing Mansaray to 25 years imprisonment.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 10th December 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
