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The alleged gold fraud case involving Admire Bio Jalloh and Dauda Jalloh resumed on Thursday, 30 July 2026, before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1, with Italian businessman Alfio Siracusa undergoing cross-examination through an interpreter.
At the commencement of proceedings, State Prosecutor Yusuf Isaac Sesay informed the court that the defence had filed a notice on 26 July indicating its intention to cross-examine prosecution witnesses. He added that the prosecution had complied with the court’s directives and explained that an interpreter was necessary because the complainant is Italian.
Interpreter Victor Moses translated Siracusa’s testimony from Italian into Krio throughout the proceedings.
Before the cross-examination began, Magistrate Jah informed the court of his intention to conclude the matter within two weeks, stressing the importance of ensuring a speedy trial.
During cross-examination by defence counsel M.C. Nicol-Wilson, Siracusa was questioned about the events surrounding the alleged transaction of 18 August 2025.
The Italian businessman told the court that he only saw Admire Bio Jalloh during the final transaction and did not see the second accused, Dauda Jalloh, at that stage. Defence counsel suggested that Dauda Jalloh was outside the country at the time.
In response, Siracusa maintained that although Dauda Jalloh was not present during the final transaction, he had attended several earlier meetings and had accompanied him on multiple occasions to Lagoonda Restaurant before the transaction was completed.
Siracusa further testified that following what he described as a robbery at about 9:00 p.m., approximately 500 metres from Admire Bio Jalloh’s residence, he contacted a man identified as “Boody,” whom he described as the manager of Lagoonda Restaurant and the person who introduced him to Admire Bio Jalloh.
According to Siracusa, Boody arrived at the scene shortly afterwards, after which he reported the incident to the police with the assistance of a friend.
When asked how he determined that the alleged gold was not genuine, Siracusa told the court that police officers informed him that it would be unusual for such a quantity of gold to be sold for US$70,000. He also said the seal attached to the alleged gold did not appear to be an official government seal, which increased his suspicion.
The witness further explained that he was unable to produce the alleged gold because, according to his account, it was taken during the robbery. He alleged that he was attacked by a group of about eight people.
When defence counsel suggested that the gold was genuine, Siracusa responded: “If the gold was real, why was I attacked?”
During the proceedings, defence counsel also raised procedural questions relating to witness statements before the commencement of cross-examination. Counsel further questioned Siracusa on why his initial statement to the police did not specifically accuse the accused persons.
In response, Siracusa said he could not accurately recall the exact contents of his first statement, explaining that he had made approximately four statements to the police.
At the end of the hearing, Magistrate Jah adjourned the matter to Monday, 3 August 2026, stating that the short adjournment was intended to facilitate an early conclusion of the case.
The Magistrate also reminded both the complainant and Admire Bio Jalloh not to discuss the matter on social media while the case remains before the court. He warned that any breach of the directive could attract legal consequences, including a possible review of bail conditions.
The allegations remain before the court, and both Admire Bio Jalloh and Dauda Jalloh have denied any wrongdoing.
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