Dubai: A 30-year-old blacksmith was sentenced to three years in jail after the Dubai Court of First Instance convicted him of sorcery and dealing with genies, claiming that he could make $25 million (Dh91.81 million) in cash rain from the sky.
Prosecutors charged him with possessing $34,000 in counterfeit currency for trading purposes.
"I am not guilty… I did not possess any counterfeit currency or claim any magical powers," I.O. said when he defended himself.
Pronouncing judgment yesterday, Presiding Judge Fahmi Mounir Fahmi fined the accused Dh5,000 for possessing counterfeit currency for trading purposes. The defendant will be deported after the completion of his jail term.
According to the arraignment sheet, prosecutors said I.O. claimed that he enjoys using his alleged "magical powers" with the intent to make money.
Modus operandi
According to prosecution records, the defendant asked the Emirati policeman to bring seawater after performing a prayer and then I.O. brought an empty metal box to pour the dollars into.
The policeman testified: "An informant tipped Dubai Police's economic crimes section that the defendant was claiming supernatural powers and that he deals in sorcery to deceive people and gain illegal profits."
"We met in a flat in Al Mamzar. I brought the stuff he asked me to get… he placed a cloth on the floor and asked me to pray. Then he asked me to pray so that the money came down, and he asked me to go to the beach and get seawaters."
"On my way there, he informed me over the phone that the genies arrived with the money. I returned… he asked me to pray six times until genies filled the box with money. Then he asked me to give him Dh200 as tip for the genies… thereafter police arrested him in a sting operation."
