Alfio Siracusa the Italian national related to the alleged fake gold sale case in court, yesterday, Thursday, 30th July, 2026, before the Principal Magistrate, Mustapha Briama Jah testified in court that the gold that was sold to him by Admire Bio and her husband Dauda Jalloh was a fake.
He was testifying in court through an interpreter Victor Mercy during cross examination by the Lead Defense Counsel, Melrone Nicole Wilson in the alleged USD 210,000 gold fraud case against Admire Frances Bio and Dauda Jalloh.
Admire Bio and Dauda Jalloh are standing trial before the court on eleven count indictment including conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretences, conspiracy to rob, money laundering, receiving money on a forged document, uttering forged documents, selling minerals without legal permission, and tax evasion.
The indictment states that Admire Bio and Dauda Jalloh between 10th and 14th August, 2025 conspired with unknown persons to defraud Fanni Giuseppe and Alfio Siracusa the sum of USD 210,000 by falsely claiming they operated a legitimate gold trading business through GAN Minerals Sierra Leone Limited.
The indictment further alleges that Admire Bio and Dauda Jalloh obtained USD 110,000 and USD 15,000 purportedly for export taxes on three kilograms of gold.
It is also alleged that Admire Bio and Dauda Jalloh conspired to rob the complainant Alfio Siracusa three kilograms of gold at the Milton Margai College Drive, Goderich, and they also engaged in money laundering, forgery related offences, unlawful mineral trading, and tax evasion.
Alfio Siracusa through the interpreter during cross examination confirmed that he made a statement to the police on 18th August, 2025 the same day he alleged he was robbed.
Alfio Siracusa disagreed with defense Counsel that he did not inform the police about the fake gold sold to him and he insisted that he made a report about the fake gold sold to him.
Alfio Siracusa explained before the court that at the police station during investigation, the police informed him that it was impossible for him to purchase 23-carat gold for USD 70,000 and that the package where the gold was did not carried the stamped that should be issued by the Government of Sierra Leone.
Alfio Siracusa in cross examination admitted that he never tested the gold sold to him by Admire Bio and Dauda Jalloh because he trusted the Lebanese businessman who introduced him to the defendants.
Alfio Siracusa also told the court that at first he did not independently believe the gold sold to him was fake because he was instructed by them not to open the package and was later ambushed and was taken from him.
Complainant Alfio Siracusa further told the court that Dauda Jalloh was present throughout almost the entire transaction of the sales except on the day when he went to collect the package and further states that Dauda Jalloh regularly visited him at Lagoonda with a man identified as “Slim”.
Answering further to questions posed by Counsel Melrone Nicole Wilson, the Italian national said he initially made a report to the police about robbery and not the fake gold but later made a complaint again about the fake gold sold to him.
Alfio Siracusa also told the court that after the robbery he tried to reach the Italian Consul but told him that he was out of the country and so he contacted former Northern Minister Abu Abu, Admire Bio and the Lebanese manager of Lagoonda Restaurant.
He said after the call they all arrived at the scene of crime without asking for directions as he never knew the location where he was robbed.
Alfio Siracusa further told the court that after he collected the package he visited the house of Admire Bio before travelling towards Milton Margai College where he was robbed.
Alfio Siracusa further told the court that approximately eight people attacked him. He further told the court that he did not made a report about the former Lagoonda manager, popularly known as “Buddy,” because he only introduced him to Admire Bio and Dauda Jalloh after he expressed an interest in purchasing gold and had promised to accompany him to collect it.
Alfio Siracusa further told the court that former Lagoonda manager called Buddy failed to appear on the agreed night he was supposed to collect his parcel as agreed but prompted his driver to accompany him
He was asked by defense Counsel Melrone Nicole Wilson whether he is aware that Buddy left the country because of this matter and he responded that he had no knowledge of that.
Alfio Siracusa also confirmed before the court that Fanni Giuseppe was with him on the day of the incident and that they both made statements to the police.
Defense Counsel Melrone Nicole Wilson in cross examination told Alfio Siracusa that they have not been robbed but had merely been stopped at a police checkpoint and he firmly denied the suggestion, stating that the police would not have taken all his belongings if it had been an ordinary checkpoint.
In reexamination by State Counsel, Yusuf Isaac Sesay, Alfio Siracusa was asked how many statements he made to the police and he responded that he made between three to four statements to the police.
At this juncture, the matter was adjourned to 3rd August 2026 for further proceedings.
