South African Gets 130-Year Sentence
By Mariama Bundu
A High Court Judge in Freetown, Honourable Justice Andrew S.C. Johnson, has sentenced a 37-year-old South African citizen, Asandra Denise, to a total of 130 years’ imprisonment for offences relating to the possession, importation, transportation and dealing in cocaine.
The convict was arrested at the Freetown International Airport in Lungi after she was found carrying 365 pellets of cocaine weighing approximately 5.4 kilograms without lawful authority.
Denise was charged with five offences under the National Drugs Control Act, including unlawful possession, dealing, collecting, importing and transporting prohibited drugs. She pleaded not guilty to all charges.
During the trial, a forensic toxicologist testified that samples taken from the seized pellets tested positive for cocaine hydrochloride.
After hearing the evidence, Justice Johnson ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and found the accused guilty on all five counts.
The court sentenced Denise to 10 years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession and 30 years each for dealing, collecting, importing and transporting prohibited drugs, bringing the total sentence to 130 years.
However, the Judge ordered that all sentences run concurrently from the date of her remand in custody.
The court also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the cocaine and all related exhibits in the presence of the relevant authorities.
