𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝… 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫

𝐁𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐁. 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐲

One of the State prosecutors handling ongoing drug-related cases before the High Court, Lawyer Yusuf Sulaiman Koroma, has strongly accused Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Joseph Steven, attached to the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU), of being a major cause of delays in the prosecution of drug-related cases.

Counsel made the accusation on Monday, September 13, before Justice Augustine K. Musa, following the absence of a prosecution witness in several drug-related cases scheduled for hearing that day.

According to Lawyer Koroma, ASP Joseph Steven is the only forensic expert involved in the cases and has allegedly been repeatedly refusing to appear in court to testify since his recent promotion from Police Constable to the rank of ASP.

He said ASP Steven had failed to appear in court despite the issuance of a subpoena ordering him to testify.

“This has been his attitude, even before other Judges presiding over drug-related matters, and I see his action as deliberate and disrespectful to the court,” Lawyer Koroma told the Judge.

Lawyer Koroma further stated that he had raised the matter with the relevant authorities, including the Solicitor-General and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who, he said, were all aware of the situation.

He explained that all other prosecution witnesses had testified, leaving ASP Steven as the final and only remaining prosecution witness, whose continued absence had stalled the prosecution of the cases.

“It is an institutional issue that has to be taken up with the Judiciary,” Lawyer Koroma fumed.

In response, Justice A.K. Musa described the drug situation as a public emergency and expressed frustration over the continued delay, stressing that it was unacceptable for an individual to put a hold on court proceedings by refusing to appear.

“Tell him that I pity him…I don’t want to take an adverse position, but I take a dim view of his conduct, and I will not take it easy with him,” Justice Musa warned.

The case involving the State and Madiana Fayia was among several drug-related matters that came up for hearing but were adjourned to October 8 due to the absence of the forensic expert, ASP Joseph Steven, who remains the only prosecution witness yet to testify in those matters.

The defendants remain in remand.