NEWS
Control Tower Reports May Rope in Government Officials in Cocaine Plan Landing
By
Jul 18, 2008, 06:35

Sleepless nights, after-thoughts and dilemmas are the current diseases beating down the minds of some government officials at the Ministry of Transport and Aviation and the Sierra Leone Airport Authority since the day the cocaine dealers ran out of luck and their goods apprehended. For Gibrilla Kamara alias GK1…001, he may be checking his perceived profits if the deal had gone smoothly. His store at Kissy Dockyard where storage, packaging and departures are made is now condoned and provided with twenty-four-hour well armed security officials who are stationed there to prevent any pilferage of items kept at the store. It is reported that GK as he is fondly known is hibernating in Cotonou-Benin where he has another drug outfit.

Meanwhile, the control tower report is forming part of police investigation and has already been handed over to President Koroma’s deputy chief investigator, Mr. Oliver B.M.Somassa. The report has reportedly giving an insight as to who gave permission for the plane to land and when the instruction was passed on to the officials in charge of the control tower. Several names of officials have been mentioned, it is now left with the investigators to bring it in as valuable evidence.

As the cocaine investigation intensifies additional arrests have been reportedly made while other possible suspects are reportedly dodging arrest. Interpol, the world international police have already landed on the soil of Sierra Leone to give helping hand to the number of foreign and local investigators in the country.

Sources say among the several questions asked by the investigators is how did Gibrilla Kamara escaped out of the country? “He must have got a tip by senior government or police officer” A member of the FBI was quoted to have asked.

Yesterday, in a similar development the country’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice Hon. Serry Kamal has overturned a high court ruling that fine a Nigerian cocaine dealer, Le 3Million. The Nigerian cocaine trafficker was caught at the Lungi International Airport with about 1.6 kg last year. The Attorney General, after he has gone through the files came to the conclusion that the fine was ridiculous and not compatible to the offence committed by David Anunihun.

On the 16^th July, 2008, David Annunihun was arraigned at the Freetown Magistrate court No. two presided over by Magistrate Kumba Kamanda. According to the offences, the accused was on three count charges ranging from conspiracy, unlawful possession of a substance believed to be cocaine and trafficking.

The defense council for the accused, Osho Williams, CF Edwards and S.K. Kabbah filed in an application for bail but  was turned down by Magistrate Kamanda based on the grounds that the accused was about to leave the country when he was arrested by the police.

It may be recalled that David Anunihun, a Nigerian has been standing trial at the Freetown Magistrate court No. 1a some time last year on the same offence. The matter was committed to the high court where he was fined the sum of three million Leones (Le3m).

Following a thorough perusal of his case by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Hon. Serry Kamal, he advised that the accused be re-arrested and charged to court again so that justice will take its course. When the matter came up for hearing on the 17^th July, 2008, Lawyer Osho Williams pleaded for a date on the grounds that he wants to make an application for a certain document. Bail was refused and the matter adjourned to the 21^st July, 2008.