The trial of Admire Bio Jalloh and Dauda Jalloh on allegations of gold fraud continued on Thursday before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1, with Italian businessman Alfio Siracusa undergoing cross-examination through an interpreter.
State prosecutor Yusuf Isaac Sesay told the court that the defence had filed a notice on 26 July signalling its intention to cross-examine prosecution witnesses. An interpreter was needed, he explained, because the complainant is Italian. Victor Moses provided consecutive translation from Italian into Krio throughout the hearing.
Magistrate Jah indicated at the outset that he aims to finish the case within two weeks and stressed the importance of a speedy trial.
Defence counsel M.C. Nicol-Wilson focused on the events of 18 August 2025. Siracusa told the court he saw only Admire Bio Jalloh during the final transaction and did not see the second accused, Dauda Jalloh. When counsel put it to him that Dauda Jalloh was out of the country at the time, Siracusa replied that although Dauda was absent from the concluding deal, he had taken part in several earlier meetings and had on multiple occasions accompanied him to Lagoonda Restaurant before the transaction was completed.
Siracusa said that after what he described as a robbery at about 9 p.m., roughly 500 metres from Admire Bio Jalloh’s residence, he telephoned a man he identified as “Boody,” the manager of Lagoonda Restaurant who had introduced him to Admire Bio Jalloh. Boody arrived shortly afterwards, and Siracusa later reported the incident to police with the help of a friend.
Asked how he decided the gold was not genuine, Siracusa said police officers told him it would be unusual for such a quantity to be sold for US$70,000.
He added that the seal on the material did not look like an official government seal, which increased his suspicions. He said he could not produce the alleged gold because it had been taken during the attack by a group of about eight people. When defence counsel suggested the gold was genuine, Siracusa answered: “If the gold was real, why was I attacked?”
Counsel also questioned procedural aspects of the witness statements. Siracusa said he could not accurately recall the exact contents of his first statement to police, noting that he had given about four statements in total and that the initial one had not specifically accused the defendants.
Magistrate Jah adjourned the matter to Monday, 3 August, citing his desire to conclude the proceedings as quickly as possible.
He reminded both the complainant and Admire Bio Jalloh not to discuss the case on social media while it remains before the court, warning that any breach could carry legal consequences, including a possible review of bail conditions.
Admire Bio Jalloh and Dauda Jalloh deny the allegations. The case continues.
