Muscat: Sorcerers claiming to possess the ability to cure all illnesses with black magic, are increasingly coming to Oman, especially from African countries, to swindle people by practising medicine without a licence.
The Royal Oman Police (ROP) arrested a swindler in the Seeb suburb after receiving information from citizens of the neighbourhood where he had been receiving people in large numbers.
In January, poisonous smoke at a sorcery ritual asphyxiated two Omanis and four lost consciousness during one such ritual to cure an illness at a house in south Mabellah suburb about 40km north of old Muscat town.
Last week again the ROP was tipped off about an African national practising sorcery in the name of medicine. “We raided the house and arrested the accused, who had created an illusion among some of his visitors that he had powers to treat people,” a spokesman for ROP said, adding that the suspect even promised people that with his magic he would get employment for those unemployed.
“We found a large amount of money that the accused may have earned by swindling people,” he added. Besides money, police also found herbs and other material used for witchcraft.
The accused has been referred to the Public Prosecution in preparation for a court case for forgery.
The ROP has advised citizens and residents to shun anyone who claims to possess supernatural powers, black magic or witchcraft. “These people may cause harm with the risky rituals and dangerous tools that they use,” he advised.
Meanwhile, the ROP officers have arrested a Pakistani for assaulting a woman with an intention of robbing her of gold jewellery that she was wearing. “The accused has confessed to assaulting the woman in Wadi Adei area to rob her,” the police said. The suspect has been handed over to the Public Prosecution for further action.
