By Fatima Kpaka
Sierra Leone — Justice Mark Ngegba of the High Court in Freetown on Monday, 17 November 2025, sentenced two women, Mariama Thomas and Fatmata Kamara, to five years imprisonment each after they pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of 50 grams of kush.
The defendants were arraigned on one count each of unlawful possession of drugs, contrary to Section 8(a) of the National Drug Control Act 2008 (Act No. 10 of 2008). According to the indictment, both women were found in possession of 50 grams of kush on 22 March 2025 in Freetown without lawful authority.
When the charges were read and explained, both defendants pleaded guilty. State Prosecutor Aruna Jalloh presented the facts, noting that the women were arrested with the drugs, investigated, and subsequently charged to court following a preliminary investigation.
In their allocutus, Mariama Thomas pleaded for mercy, claiming she acted out of goodwill, while Fatmata Kamara said poverty drove her actions, adding that she has five children to care for.
Defense Counsel M.Y. Conteh argued in mitigation that the defendants had not wasted the court’s time by pleading guilty. He stressed that justice should also consider rehabilitation, noting that the women had been in custody since the matter began and had no prior records.
The prosecution, however, urged the court to impose the maximum sentence of 10 years each, citing the seriousness of the offense and its destructive impact on society, particularly on youth.
Sentencing
In his ruling, Justice Ngegba acknowledged that the defendants had not wasted the court’s time but emphasized his duty to uphold the law. He sentenced both women to five years imprisonment each, with the sentences to run concurrently.