JEDDAH, 14 September 2004 — Three sorcerers, including an African woman, have been arrested in south Jeddah after being accused of black magic and embezzlement.
The arrest came after the Commission for the Promotion Virtue and Prevention of Vice received reports from citizens about gangs of people practicing sorcery in different locations in Jeddah. The commission together with police sent an undercover agent with money to make sure that the gangs were actually practicing sorcery. Members of the gangs allegedly claimed that they could cure the sick, increase business profits, multiply money and undo magic spells.
Police who monitored the gangs’ activities and movements within the city found that the sorcerers targeted sick people promising that they had the perfect cure for their illnesses if only a large amount of money could change hands.
They also targeted poor people with the promise of making them rich overnight. After extracting money from the gullible poor, they would escape leaving them behind with white papers instead of the promised currency notes. In order to avoid suspicion, the sorcerers were getting help from others to mislead their victims and meet them in public places and malls.
According to a police source, the sorcerers targeted middle-income and poor people as well as handicapped persons. Gangs of such criminals are known to be on the prowl in south Jeddah. Most of them are from Africa, the source said.
