A High Court in Sierra Leone has sentenced a 37-year-old South African woman, Asandra Denise, to a cumulative 130 years in prison after finding her guilty of cocaine smuggling and other drug-related offences.
The court convicted Denise on a five-count charge under the National Drugs Control Act, including unlawful possession, trafficking, and importation of prohibited drugs.
During the trial, prosecutors presented forensic evidence from toxicology experts, which the court accepted as proof beyond reasonable doubt. The defendant had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Although the court imposed a total sentence of 130 years, the presiding judge ordered that the sentences run concurrently. This means the convict will serve the terms at the same time rather than consecutively, resulting in a significantly shorter effective prison sentence.
The judgment has been described as part of ongoing efforts by authorities in Sierra Leone to combat drug trafficking and other transnational crimes.
