JEDDAH, 12 May 2006 — Jeddah police retrieved SR10 million from a gang of African grifters who convinced a man they had magical powers that could turn him into a high-ranking official, Al-Madinah daily reported yesterday.
The superstitious victim, a Saudi man in his 50s, agreed to pay SR210 million. The man had already sent SR200 million to different locations abroad before he started to smell a scam.
He then went to the authorities, who planned a sting operation. One of the grifters was arrested with SR10 million in the boot of a vehicle. Police then proceeded to question him on his magical claims. The suspect denied being a magician, and said the man had asked him to distribute the SR10 million to the poor. Upon thorough questioning he confessed that he had made the businessman pay him SR200 million as the charge for performing magic that would make the government issue orders appointing the man to a very high position in the government handling public finances.
