Plump detective busts weight-losing scam

Police used a heavyweight to nab a woman who hoodwinked obese clients, claiming that her wonder drugs could melt fat away. After a month-long investigation, police set a trap to nab a 45-year-old Spanish woman whose fees ranged from Dh1,000 to Dh1,500 per visit. Her clients were mainly unsuspecting women seeking a quick cure for obesity.

The defendant, who once worked as a sales executive with a pharmaceutical company here, prescribed anti-obesity medicines. But far from getting rid of the fat, these drugs had side effects that landed the victims in hospital.

A spokesman said police, acting on a tipoff, sent a suitably plump female detective to bust the racket. As the detective was being examined by the woman in her apartment, police swooped down and arrested the charlatan.

The spokesman said, "She was caught red-handed and detectives seized various medicines. The woman admitted that she once worked for a private clinic before she joined a medical company. She prescribed medicine without being licensed by the Ministry of Health."

The woman told investigators that she bought the medicines from the pharmaceutical company and sold them to her clients. Police have urged people to be careful when dealing with people who claim to have miracle remedies. "People should be sure of their identity and whether they have a licence to practice. Scams like these can endanger lives. One should not fall for them."