By Fatima Kpaka
Justice Isata Sellu Tucker of the High Court in Freetown has sentenced Abubakarr Sesay to ten years imprisonment for unlawful possession of 60.5 grams of kush, a synthetic drug that has become increasingly prevalent in Sierra Leone.
Sesay was convicted under Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act 2008 (Act No. 10 of 2008), following his arrest on 27th October 2024 in Freetown. He pleaded guilty to the charge during his initial court appearance and appealed to the court for leniency.
In delivering her judgment, Justice Tucker acknowledged the convict’s early guilty plea and his acceptance of responsibility, noting that he did not waste the court’s time. However, she emphasized the seriousness of the offense, citing the growing threat kush poses to public health and safety.
“The possession and abuse of kush have become alarmingly widespread, destroying lives and endangering communities,” Justice Tucker stated. “The judiciary has a duty to send a strong message that such conduct will not be tolerated.”
She sentenced Sesay to ten years at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown. Additionally, she ordered that the seized kush, which was presented as evidence during the trial, be forfeited to the state and destroyed by the appropriate authorities.
Justice Tucker concluded by advising the convict to desist from such behavior upon completing his sentence.