Freetown — Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah has committed Admire Bio and her husband, Dauda Jalloh (also known as Alhaji Dausy), to the High Court to stand trial on eleven counts linked to an alleged gold fraud involving Italian businessman Alfio Siracusa.
The two accused face charges including conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretences, conspiracy to rob, money laundering, forgery-related offences, selling minerals without lawful authority, and tax evasion.
The allegations centre on claims by Siracusa that he was defrauded of approximately US$200,000 (with some reports citing figures around US$210,000 to US$260,000 when related costs are included) in a transaction for what he believed was genuine gold that later turned out to be counterfeit.
According to the prosecution’s case, the alleged deal took place in August 2025 and involved representations that GAN Minerals Sierra Leone Limited was a licensed gold trading company authorised to sell about three kilograms of gold.
Siracusa told the court he paid for the consignment only to later discover it was fake. A second Italian national, Fanni Giuseppe, has also been named in connection with the broader allegations.
During proceedings at the Magistrate’s Court (Pademba Road), the prosecution called three witnesses and presented its case. Defence counsel cross-examined the witnesses and made a “no-case” submission, arguing that the evidence was insufficient and urging the court to dismiss the matter.
The prosecution countered that enough evidence had been laid to require the accused to answer the charges.
After reviewing the submissions and relevant legal precedents, Magistrate Jah ruled that the prosecution had established a case to answer. He dismissed the defence application and committed the matter to the High Court for trial.
The magistrate stressed that his ruling does not amount to a finding of guilt. The High Court will determine whether the prosecution can prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. Both accused remain on bail under earlier stringent conditions imposed by the court, which included high property sureties and reporting requirements.
The case has drawn significant public attention in Sierra Leone, partly because Admire Bio, popularly known as “Mama of Freetown” is a niece of President Julius Maada Bio. The allegations first gained widespread notice in mid-2026 when police detained her and declared her husband wanted in connection with the matter, which also included claims of a subsequent robbery/ambush involving the Italian complainants along the Mile 13 axis.
