BY KADIJATU BANGURA | DAILY SCOPE REPORTER
FREETOWN
An Italian businessman told the High Court last Thursday that he was attacked by about eight men shortly after collecting a package he believed contained gold, in connection with a US$210,000 fraud case involving the niece of President Julius Maada Bio.
Alfio Siracusa, testifying with the aid of an interpreter, is the complainant in the matter against Admire Frances Bio Jalloh and her husband Dauda Jalloh. The couple face an 11-count indictment which includes conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretences, conspiracy to rob, money laundering, and tax evasion.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel Melron Nicol-Wilson, Mr. Siracusa said he never independently tested the gold. He told the court his doubts about its authenticity arose after a Lebanese businessman who introduced him to the accused, and later police officers, informed him that 23-carat gold could not be sold for US$70,000. He added that police also told him the package he received lacked the official stamp of the Government of Sierra Leone.
The complainant narrated that after collecting the package from the residence of the first accused, he headed towards Milton Margai College. He alleged that shortly after leaving the house, he was ambushed and assaulted by about eight men.
He said he first reported the matter to police as a robbery. He later disclosed details about the alleged sale of fake gold as investigations continued. Mr. Siracusa confirmed that Mr. Jalloh was present during almost all stages of the transaction except on the day the package was collected, and that Mr. Jalloh often met him at Lagoonda Restaurant with another individual known as “Slim.”
The court heard that after the incident, Mr. Siracusa attempted to reach the Italian Consul but was told the official was out of the country. He then contacted former Northern Province Minister Abu Abdulai Koroma and the Lebanese manager of Lagoonda Restaurant. According to him, both men arrived at the scene unprompted. He identified the former Lagoonda manager, “Buddy,” as the person who introduced him to the accused after he expressed interest in buying gold.
Mr. Siracusa dismissed suggestions from defence counsel that he was merely stopped at a police checkpoint, arguing that police would not have seized all his belongings in such a situation. He also told the court that he made between three and four statements to police during the preliminary investigation.
The matter continues.
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