By Joseph Momoh
Freetown, Sierra Leone – Justice Adrian Fisher, in High Court No. 1 on Siaka Stevens Street, has sentenced Isata Bangura, a businesswoman, to five years in the Female Correctional Centre for unlawful possession of drugs.
Bangura faced two charges under Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act 2008. On July 27, 2024, she was arrested with 50 grams of kush in one count and an additional 40.8 grams in another. She pleaded guilty to both counts after the charges were read to her.
In delivering his ruling, Justice Fisher highlighted the prosecution’s evidence, which included 98 grams of kush, cannabis sativa, and NLe 6,000 in cash found in her possession. Bangura claimed during police questioning that the drugs belonged to her boyfriend, Unisa Conteh, who had left them at her home.
She also mentioned being a victim of the 2017 Regent mudslide and expressed concern for her worsening health. Her defense attorney, Mr. D. Koroma, sought leniency, arguing that her chronic abdominal pain required medical attention, which had not yet been provided since her arrest.
Justice Fisher noted the absence of a medical assessment during her custody and ordered a medical officer to evaluate her within seven days. He directed that she be taken to a government hospital for a proper examination and required the female medical officer from the Sierra Leone Correctional Services to present the findings to the court.
In her final plea, Bangura requested mercy, citing her role as a single mother and her significant health issues. When asked about the dangers of kush, she replied that she was unaware and insisted she did not use the drug, asserting it was left by her boyfriend.
Despite her appeals, Justice Fisher underscored the seriousness of the crime and its impact on society, stating, “This court must send a clear message that the trafficking and possession of harmful drugs like kush will not be tolerated.”
For more information, contact Daily Scope Newspaper at dailyscopemedia@gmail.com.
