The High Court last Thursday heard dramatic testimony in the alleged US$210,000 gold fraud case, with Italian complainant Alfio Siracusa telling the court he was ambushed by about eight men shortly after collecting a package linked to the disputed transaction.

Siracusa, who is testifying through an interpreter, is the complainant in the case against Admire Frances Bio Jalloh and her husband Dauda Jalloh, who are facing an 11-count indictment including conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretences, conspiracy to rob, money laundering, and tax evasion. Bio is a niece of President Julius Maada Bio.

During cross-examination by defence counsel Melron Nicol-Wilson, Siracusa admitted he never personally tested the gold. He said his suspicion that it was fake came from a Lebanese businessman who had introduced him to the accused, as well as from police officers who later told him it was impossible to purchase 23-carat gold for US$70,000.

The complainant said police also informed him that the package he received did not carry the official stamp of the Government of Sierra Leone. Those developments strengthened his belief that the gold was not genuine.

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Siracusa told the court that after collecting the package, he first visited the residence of the first accused before travelling towards Milton Margai College. Shortly after leaving the residence, he alleged, about eight men ambushed and attacked him.

The complainant said he initially reported only a robbery to police, but later also disclosed the sale of fake gold as investigations progressed.

Siracusa testified that after the incident, he tried to contact the Italian Consul but was told the official was out of the country. He then contacted former Northern Minister Abu Abu Abdulai Koroma and the Lebanese manager of Lagoonda Restaurant.

According to his testimony, both later arrived at the scene without being prompted or given directions. He said the former Lagoonda manager, known as “Buddy,” had introduced him to the defendants after he expressed interest in purchasing gold.

Siracusa firmly rejected defence counsel’s suggestion that he had merely been stopped at a police checkpoint, insisting that police would not have confiscated all his belongings in such circumstances.

He confirmed that Dauda Jalloh was present throughout almost the entire transaction except on the day he collected the package, and that Jalloh regularly visited him at Lagoonda with a man identified only as “Slim”.

Siracusa also told the court he made between three and four statements to police during the preliminary investigation.