By: Audrey Raymonda John
Admire Frances Bio and her husband, Alhaji Dausy Jalloh, made their first appearance before Principal Magistrate Mustapha Briama Jah and Magistrate Adama Kandeh on Friday, 3 July 2026, in connection with allegations of defrauding two foreign nationals of more than US$400,000 through an alleged fraudulent gold trading scheme.
The two defendants are accused of allegedly obtaining money from Fanni Giuseppe and Alfio Siracusa by falsely representing that they operated a legitimate gold business, knowing the representation to be false.
During the proceedings, State Prosecutor Yusuf Isaac Sesay informed the court that he had only recently received instructions to prosecute the matter and had just taken possession of the case file.
He told the court that he required time to study the file, review the evidence, and confer with prosecution witnesses before proceeding with the case. He further stated that, as the matter is before the court as committal proceedings, he wished to ensure an efficient and expeditious presentation of the prosecution’s case.
The prosecutor also confirmed that, in compliance with the law, the prosecution had served the defence with copies of the case file and all documentary evidence upon which it intends to rely. He added that any additional documents obtained during the proceedings would also be disclosed to the defence.
Lead defence counsel, Melron Nicole Wilson, told the court that the prosecution had acted fairly by explaining why it was not ready to proceed, noting that the prosecutor had only recently received the file.
Counsel Wilson said the defence had likewise only received the prosecution’s documents and required adequate time to review them in preparation for trial.
He subsequently applied for bail pursuant to Section 76(1)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 2024, arguing that the prosecution had not filed any affidavit opposing bail.
The defence further submitted that both defendants are Sierra Leonean citizens resident in Freetown, have no previous criminal convictions, and voluntarily honoured police invitations during the investigation.
Counsel also informed the court that the second accused, Alhaji Dausy Jalloh, was outside Sierra Leone when a police wanted notice was issued but voluntarily returned to the country and presented himself to investigators, after which he was granted police bail.
He argued that the defendants are not flight risks, own properties in the Western Area, and have credible sureties who would ensure their attendance throughout the proceedings. He further submitted that they do not know the prosecution witnesses and therefore pose no risk of interfering with the investigation.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Principal Magistrate Jah and Magistrate Kandeh granted bail to both defendants in the sum of Le500,000 each, with two sureties in like amount.
The court ordered that: Each surety must be a Sierra Leonean resident in the Western Area. One surety for each accused must produce a title deed for property valued at US$500,000. The defendants must surrender property documents relating to assets valued at US$200,000. Both defendants must deposit their travel documents with the court. They must report to the court three times each week until the conclusion of the case.
The matter was adjourned to 9 July 2026 for the continuation of the committal proceedings.
Admire Frances Bio and Alhaji Dausy Jalloh are jointly facing 11 counts, including:
Conspiracy to defraud; Obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 31(1) of the Larceny Act, 1916; Conspiracy to rob; Money laundering, contrary to Section 25(1)(c) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Financing Terrorism and Financing the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, 2024; Receiving money through a forged document; Uttering forged documents, contrary to the Forgery Act, 1913; Selling minerals without lawful authority, contrary to the Mines and Minerals Development Act, 2022; and Tax evasion, contrary to the Income Tax Act, 2000, as amended. Prosecutions’ Allegations.
According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly conspired between 10 and 14 August 2025 to defraud Fanni Giuseppe and Alfio Siracusa by falsely claiming that GAN Minerals Sierra Leone Limited was a licensed gold trading company authorized to sell three kilograms of gold.
The prosecution alleges that the complainants paid US$100,000 as an initial payment for the gold, followed by an additional US$110,000, bringing the total purchase price to US$210,000.
The indictment further alleges that the defendants obtained an additional US$15,000, claiming the money was required to pay export taxes on the gold shipment.
The prosecution also alleges that the defendants conspired with other persons to rob the complainants of three kilograms of gold valued at US$210,000, possessed money allegedly derived from unlawful activities, received funds using forged documents, uttered forged invoices purportedly issued by GAN Minerals Sierra Leone Limited, sold gold without the requisite legal authorization, and willfully evaded income tax arising from the alleged transaction.
The allegations remain before the court, and the defendants have not yet entered pleas, as the matter is currently at the committal stage.