Fake Address and Unlicensed Company: CID Investigator Outlines Evidence Gathered
A significant gold fraud case involving a high-stakes scam of $210,000 has sent shockwaves through the local business community as details emerged during a committal hearing at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1. The prosecution has accused Admire Frances Bio Jalloh and her husband, Dauda Jalloh (alias Alhaji Dausy), of orchestrating a sophisticated scheme that allegedly defrauded foreign investors through a shell enterprise.
Magistrate Mustapha Brima Jah presided over the session where the couple faced an eleven-count indictment. The charges are extensive, ranging from conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretenses to more serious allegations of money laundering, tax evasion, and the illegal sale of minerals without a valid license.
The prosecution's case centers on events that took place between August 10 and 14, 2025. It is alleged that the defendants targeted two Italian nationals, Fanni Giuseppe and Alfio Siracusa, at a residence on the Freetown Peninsula. According to investigators, the victims were lured into investing $210,000 under the impression they were purchasing three kilograms of gold from a legitimate source.
The scam was purportedly fronted by a fictitious entity named "GAN Minerals Sierra Leone Limited." The defendants allegedly used forged documents and receipts to convince the victims of their legal standing to export gold. In addition to the primary investment, the victims reportedly handed over an extra $15,000 intended to cover export taxes/funds the prosecution claims were misappropriated.
Key testimony was provided by Inspector Abubakarr Hassan of the CID's Foreign National and Tourism Unit. Hassan recounted how a robbery report initially filed by the Italians led to the discovery of the broader fraud. Detailed inquiries with the National Mineral Agency (NMA) confirmed that neither the defendants nor their company held any valid licenses to deal in or export minerals.
Further damaging evidence revealed that the registered address for GAN Minerals was a fabrication, with property owners confirming no connection to the Jallohs. The investigation also touched upon financial trails involving a Lebanese national, Bahij Moujss, which investigators say further complicates the defendants' claims of legitimacy.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, the defendants have yet to enter a formal plea as the matter remains in the committal stage.
Significantly, defense counsel Melron C. Nicole Wilson has signaled his intention to file a "no-case submission," arguing that the evidence presented does not warrant a full trial.
As the hearing concluded, Magistrate Jah adjourned the proceedings to August 10, 2026. The case continues to be a focal point for judicial observers, highlighting the ongoing efforts of Sierra Leonean authorities to crack down on mineral-related fraud and protect foreign investment within the country.
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