High Court Judge Honourable Justice Khalilah Diana Kamara has sentenced Hawa Dukuly to 35 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of drugs, in violation of the National Drugs Control Act of 2008.
The offence occurred on 11 June 2025 in Lungi, North-West Sierra Leone, where Dukuly was found in possession of 800.4 grams of cocaine without lawful authority.
During her arraignment, Dukuly pleaded guilty. Her lawyer appealed for leniency, citing that she is a mother of two and the principal caregiver of her family.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Kamara acknowledged the plea and mitigation but emphasized the severity of the offence and the need to send a clear message in the country’s fight against narcotics.
“The guilty plea and plea in mitigation cannot lessen the gravity of this offence,” the judge stated, adding that sentencing must serve as a deterrent.
In addition, the judge ordered that the seized 800.4 grams of cocaine be destroyed under the supervision of authorized officials, with a certificate of destruction filed in court within seven working days.
