Admire Bio Gold Fraud Trial Delayed After Defense-Prosecution Clash Over Notice

The ongoing gold fraud trial at the Pademba Road Court No. 1 took a procedural turn on Thursday, 16 July 2026, after the defense and prosecution disagreed over the admissibility of a cross-examination notice filed by defense counsel Melrone Nicole Wilson.

Wilson informed the court of his readiness to cross-examine prosecution witnesses, but Lead State Counsel Yusuf Isaac Sesay challenged the legal basis of the application, arguing that the notice was improperly filed and lacked merit.

The matter came before Principal Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah following the submission of a cross-examination notice dated 8 July 2026. Counsel Sesay argued that the legal provision cited by Wilson—Section 112(c)(i) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 2024—did not support the defense’s request and was not applicable to the circumstances of the case.

He further argued that the notice failed to clearly indicate the issues the defense intended to raise during the cross-examination of prosecution witnesses.

Responding to the objection, Wilson told the court that the error was a typographical mistake and assured the magistrate that it would be corrected.

However, Magistrate Jah expressed concern over the legal foundation of the application, noting that the cited section was inappropriate. He ruled that, in the interest of fairness and justice, the defense should be allowed to amend and resubmit the notice under the correct legal provisions.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter to 23 July 2026 to allow the defense to properly refile the application.

The accused persons, Admire Frances Bio Jalloh and her husband, Dauda Jalloh, also known as Alhaji Dausy, are facing multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretenses, conspiracy to rob, money laundering, uttering forged documents, selling minerals without lawful authority, and tax evasion.

The charges relate to allegations that between 10 and 14 August 2025, at various locations in Freetown, the accused conspired to defraud international investors of more than US$210,000 through alleged false representations involving a gold business known as GAN Minerals Sierra Leone Limited.

According to the indictment, the accused allegedly obtained US$100,000 by claiming to operate a licensed gold trading company and received an additional US$110,000 through similar representations. They are also alleged to have collected US$15,000 purportedly for gold export taxes.

The prosecution further alleges that the accused conspired to deprive the investors of three kilograms of gold valued at US$210,000, while also possessing funds allegedly obtained through unlawful means. Other allegations include the use of forged documents, issuing false invoices, unauthorized gold sales, and tax evasion.

The case continues, with the court emphasizing adherence to proper legal procedures as proceedings progress.