JEDDAH, 3 August — Security officers are questioning a Saudi impersonator allegedly involved in swindling a large amount of money from businessmen and companies, informed sources said. The man was arrested while returning from Bahrain, crossing the King Fahd Causeway.
A number of companies have already filed lawsuits against the man accused of impersonating Saudi businessmen and swindling money in the name of fake UAE and Bahraini agents. They decided to take legal action after the man disappeared last year taking their money.
The sources told Arab News that the alleged impersonator was staying in Bahrain for the past one year, fearing that he would be arrested on his return to the Kingdom. Earlier his name and features had been circulated to immigration officers at border points.
The man has been transferred to Malaz jail in Riyadh. pending investigations. Cases were filed against him by travel agencies, rent-a-car firms and other companies.
The man is also accused of masterminding a network of swindlers including Saudis and expatriates whom he exploited to prove his credibility in front of his victims. “He also rented offices in an area of operation prior to concluding deals. He then moved to another place in search of new victims before repeating his modus operandi,” the sources said.
Seven hotels in Madinah are demanding from him SR7 million, the value of deals he signed with them to furnish 1,512 rooms.
A well-known tourism company, on the other hand, is demanding the payment of SR300,000 for providing tickets to employees of his fake companies. The man paid SR80,000 to the travel agent promising them that the rest would be paid later.
Foreign companies have accused the man of selling fake Saudi visas. The individuals and companies conned by the man told Arab News that they would pursue their cases until their money is paid back.
They said they believed the man because he talked about prominent businessmen and agents and traveled in luxury cars, thus cloaking his treacherous and false intentions with his grandiose display.
