By Fatima Kpaka
Sierra Leone – December 15, 2025: High Court Judge, Honourable Justice Khalilah Diana Kamara, has sentenced Hawa Dukuly to thirty-five (35) years imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of drugs, contrary to Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act of 2008.
The conviction stems from an incident on June 11, 2025, at Lungi in the North-West Region, where Dukuly was found in possession of 800.4 grams of cocaine without lawful authority. During her arraignment, she admitted guilt to the charge.
Plea and Judgment
In mitigation, counsel for the convict appealed for leniency, noting that Dukuly is a mother of two and the principal caregiver for her children.
Delivering judgment, Justice Kamara acknowledged the guilty plea and the plea in mitigation but stressed that the gravity of the offence outweighed those considerations.
“Taking into consideration the nature of the offence, the guilty plea of the convict and plea in mitigation of the convict’s lawyer cannot mitigate the gravity and enormity of the offence committed,” she stated.
Justice Kamara emphasized that Sierra Leone is at a crossroads in its fight against narcotics and that sentencing must send a clear and decisive message of deterrence.
Orders of the Court
In addition to the custodial sentence, the Judge ordered that the 800.4 grams of cocaine be destroyed by the appropriate authorities in the presence of approved witnesses. A certificate confirming the destruction must be filed with the court within seven working days of the exercise.
The ruling underscores the judiciary’s commitment to combating drug-related offences and reinforcing national efforts against narcotics trafficking.