Suspect held for fraud, sorcery in money scam

Police have arrested a man on suspicion of fraud and sorcery after he allegedly killed a chicken and put its head in a bag containing money which he said would increase in value as the result of a "magic spell."

The Nigerian, identified as Ola Nshili Alaran Ibrahim, was arrested on May 19 by an undercover police team. A police spokesman said an officer contacted him pretending to be a trader who wanted Dh20,000 to be increased to Dh200,000, so a meeting was arranged at a hotel.

The Nigerian brought a sack and, after saying a prayer, put a white piece of cloth on the floor and changed his kandoora to another which was white. "He asked the policeman to change into a white kandoora he had brought for him. Then he turned off the lights and lit two candles. He asked the "trader" to put the Dh20,000 in a bag.

"The man brought out a chicken and slit its throat. He sprinkled the chicken's blood on his kandoora and put the chicken's head inside the bag which he sprayed with water while uttering unintelligible words.

"He asked the "trader" to fill a small bottle with water from the bathroom. While he was in the bathroom, the suspect took the money from the bag and hid it in his underwear. When the "trader" came back with the water, the swindler sprayed it on the bag, again uttering unintelligible words.

Then he congratulated the trader on the success of the operation and asked him for Dh8,000 which he insisted he receive before handing over the bag. He told the "trader" not to open the bag until the next day.

The undercover officer asked the Nigerian to accompany him to the bank as he didn't have Dh8,000 on him, at which point the police team arrested the suspect.