One Dembo Ceesay was recently arraigned before Principal Magistrate Edrissa Mbai of the Banjul Magistrates Court for being in possession of a prohibited drug.

The accused was alleged to have been found in possession of 5kg of cannabis sativa commonly known as ganja on the 10th February, 2009 at Bullock village in the Fonis, Western Region. At the last hearing, the prosecution, led by Sub-Inspector Momodou Jallow called one Jerreh Jarjue, a narcotics officer, attached to the Sibanor Police Station, to testify. In his testimony, the witness told the court that on February 10, 2009 the accused was escorted to the Sibanor Police Station by some police officers, who alleged that the accused was found in possession of cannabis sativa.

The witness further told the court that upon their arrival, he cautioned the accused and obtained both the cautionary and voluntary statements from him in the presence of an independent witness. Another witness, Amadou  Bittaye, also a narcotics officer, told the court that he was assigned to escort the accused to the Weigh and Measure office in Banjul, where the weight of the suspected drugs were ascertained.

The witness further said after determining the weight of the said substance, they later proceeded to analyse the said substance at the laboratory, where it was ascertained that it was indeed cannabis sativa. The accused person's cautionary and voluntary statements, weight certificate and the analytical report were tendered in evidence, admitted and marked as prosecution exhibits.
The case continues on September 3, 2009.