Businessman Sentenced to 15 Years for Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substances

Businessman Sentenced to 15 Years for Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substances

The Honorable Justice Santigie Ibrahim Sorie Bangura of the Kono High Court has sentenced Mr. Kefala Mansaray, a local businessman, to a term of fifteen years imprisonment following a conviction for the unlawful possession of the controlled substance known as "kush."

The defendant was arraigned on a single count of unlawful possession, in violation of Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act of 2008.

Evidence presented in the indictment established that on November 5, 2025, within the Kono Judicial District of Sierra Leone's Eastern Province, the defendant was found in possession of thirty wraps of the aforementioned illegal substance.

State Prosecutor Charles Foday Sesay, Esq., confirmed for the record that the defendant had no previous criminal history.

During plea mitigation, defense counsel Alpha Osman Kamara, Esq., underscored that his client was a first-time offender. Mr. Kamara emphasized the defendant’s potential for rehabilitation and urged the court to exercise leniency by considering the minimum sentencing guidelines.

In his deliberation, Justice Bangura acknowledged the mitigation arguments and the defendant’s decision not to impede the court’s proceedings. However, the Justice highlighted the alarming proliferation of drug-related offenses and their detrimental impact on Sierra Leonean youth and the broader social fabric.

The court affirmed that a firm judicial response is necessary to serve as a deterrent against similar future conduct.

Accordingly, Justice Bangura sentenced Mr. Mansaray to fifteen years of incarceration and issued a formal order for the immediate destruction of the confiscated narcotics.