By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, Sierra Leone – Businesswoman Admire Frances Bio and her husband Alhaji Dausy Jalloh appeared before Principal Magistrate Mustapha Briama Jah and Magistrate Adama Kandeh on Friday, July 3, 2026, facing allegations of defrauding two foreign investors of more than $400,000 in a purported gold deal.
State Prosecutor Yusuf Isaac Sesay informed the court that he had only just received instructions to prosecute the matter and needed time to review the case file before proceeding. He requested an adjournment to allow him to meet with witnesses and prepare for committal proceedings.
Defense Counsel Melrone Nicole Wilson acknowledged the prosecutor’s fairness and also requested time to review the prosecution’s evidence bundle. He applied for bail under Section 76 (1)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2024, arguing that the defendants were credible businesspersons, residents of Freetown, and not flight risks.
Wilson emphasized that both defendants had voluntarily cooperated with police investigations and had no prior criminal convictions. He assured the court that they had responsible sureties and property ownership in the Western Area, making them unlikely to abscond.
Magistrates Jah and Kandeh granted bail set at $500,000 each, with two sureties in like sum. One surety must produce a property title deed valued at $500,000, while the defendants were ordered to surrender conveyance property worth $200,000 and their travel documents. They must also report to court three times a week until the matter concludes.
Bio and Jalloh face 11 counts, including: Conspiracy to defraud; Obtaining money by false pretences under the Larceny Act 1916; Money laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2024; Forgery and uttering forged documents; Selling minerals without legal permission under the Mines and Minerals Development Act 2022; and Tax evasion under the Income Tax Act 2000
According to the indictment, the couple allegedly conspired with unknown persons between August 10–14, 2025, to defraud Italian nationals Fanni Giuseppe and Alfio Siracusa. They reportedly obtained sums totaling over $400,000 by falsely claiming to operate a licensed gold business under the name GAN Minerals Sierra Leone Limited.
The charges detail multiple transactions, including payments for gold purchases and export taxes, as well as possession of funds derived from unlawful activities. The indictment also alleges that the defendants sold three kilograms of gold bars without legal authorization and evaded taxes on the transactions.
The matter has been adjourned to July 9, 2026, for further hearing.