Italian Retirees Defrauded US$300,000
Two Italian retirees who reportedly invested their lifetime savings in Sierra Leone are demanding justice after allegedly falling victim to a sophisticated fraud and armed robbery scheme that has left them devastated financially and emotionally.
According to reports, the two businessmen spent decades working in Italy before retiring and deciding to invest their retirement benefits abroad. Sources indicate that they were encouraged to invest in Sierra Leone through business arrangements allegedly facilitated by Admire Bio, whom they believed would help them secure a profitable gold transaction.
However, what began as a promising investment opportunity allegedly turned into a nightmare. The retirees claim they paid approximately USD 300,000 for gold that was later discovered to be fake, resulting in significant financial losses.
Adding to their ordeal, reports filed by the victims allege that they were held at gunpoint and robbed at Mile 13, on the outskirts of Freetown. The elderly investors claim that during the frightening incident, they were stripped of cash, valuables, and personal belongings under armed intimidation.
The matter has attracted considerable public attention, with many observers closely monitoring the ongoing investigation. The reported refusal by law enforcement authorities to grant bail to Admire Bio has further fueled public speculation about the seriousness of the allegations under investigation.
The two Italians maintain that they travelled to Sierra Leone in good faith, believing they were entering into a legitimate business venture. Instead, they say they lost their retirement savings and have been left struggling to understand how the investment went so terribly wrong.
Sources familiar with the case indicate that investigators are examining multiple aspects of the matter, including the alleged fake gold transaction, the circumstances surrounding the reported armed robbery, and the movement of funds connected to the deal.
The victims are now appealing to the authorities to ensure that justice is served. They are seeking the recovery of their money, personal effects, and other assets allegedly lost during the incident. They have also called for a thorough investigation into all individuals who may have played a role in the transaction.
As investigations continue, the case has sparked wider discussions about investor protection, business transparency, and the need to safeguard Sierra Leone’s reputation as a destination for legitimate foreign investment.
For the two elderly Italian retirees, however, the issue goes beyond business. They insist that the money represented years of hard work and sacrifice, and they remain hopeful that the justice system will help them recover what they describe as their life’s savings.
“We came to invest in good faith. We are only asking for justice and the return of what we lost,” one of the victims reportedly stated.
The investigation remains ongoing
