By: Audrey Raymonda John
Proceedings in the ongoing alleged gold fraud case involving Admire Frances Bio Jalloh and her husband, Dauda Jalloh, were adjourned on Thursday, 16 July 2026, after the defence acknowledged that it had cited the wrong provision of the law in an application seeking leave to cross-examine prosecution witnesses.
The matter came before Principal Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown.
At the commencement of the hearing, lead State Counsel Yusuf Isaac Sesay informed the court that the notice of cross-examination filed by defence counsel, Melrone Nicole Wilson, dated 8 July 2026, was based on an incorrect provision of the Criminal Procedure Act.
State Counsel Sesay submitted that the defence had relied on Section 112(c)(i) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 2024 (Act No. 8 of 2024), which, according to him, does not provide the legal basis for the relief being sought.
In response, defence counsel Melrone Nicole Wilson told the court that the citation of the legal provision was a typographical error and assured the court that the application would be corrected.
In his ruling, Magistrate Jah noted that the defence had indeed relied on the wrong provision of the law in its application. However, in the interest of fairness and justice, he granted the defence leave to file a fresh notice citing the appropriate legal provision.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to 23 July 2026 for further proceedings.
Admire Frances Bio Jalloh and her husband, Dauda Jalloh, also known as Alhaji Dausy, are standing trial on an 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 lawful authority, and tax evasion, contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly conspired between 10 and 14 August 2025 at No. 1 DAJ Drive, Mile 13, Freetown, to defraud Fanni Giuseppe and Alfio Siracusa of US$210,000 by falsely representing that they operated a legitimate gold trading business.
The prosecution further alleged that the accused obtained US$100,000 from the complainants after claiming that GAN Minerals Sierra Leone Limited was a genuine company licensed to sell three kilograms of gold.
It is further alleged that the defendants subsequently obtained an additional US$110,000 from the complainants under the same representation.
The indictment also states that the accused obtained US$15,000, purportedly to pay export taxes for the shipment of the three kilograms of gold, knowing the representation to be false.
The prosecution further alleged that on 13 August 2025, at Milton Margai College Drive, Goderich, the defendants conspired with other persons unknown to rob the complainants of three kilograms of gold valued at US$210,000.
The charge sheet also alleges that the accused possessed US$100,000 and US$110,000, respectively, knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities, thereby constituting offences under the country’s anti-money laundering laws.
Additionally, the prosecution alleged that the defendants received US$210,000 by means of a forged receipt purportedly issued by GAN Minerals Sierra Leone Limited, knowing the document to be forged. They are also accused of uttering a forged payment invoice with the intent to defraud.
The indictment further alleges that the defendants sold three kilograms of gold without the requisite legal authorization and willfully evaded the payment of income tax arising from the transaction conducted under the name GAN Minerals Sierra Leone Limited.
The accused persons remain before the court as the matter continues. The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.