DUBAI // Three men have been accused of conning two Algerians out of nearly Dh3.5 million after convincing them they were under a black magic spell, the Dubai Criminal Court heard on Sunday.
Sudani nationals B M, 40, M A, 48 and A M, 53 are charged with possessing Dh1.28m in fake bills as well as conning S S, 44 and N T, 37 out of Dh3.48m. The trio denied charges against them in court.
Prosecutors said before the date on which the report was filed by the victims on November 18 last year, the defendants managed to fraudulently obtain the cash from their victims after convincing them they were under a black magic spell and needed treatment.
They also told the victims that they were able to double their money, prosecutors told the court.
S S said in his testimony that he met B M in 2013 through friends and the two started planning a business in meat trading between Sudan and Algeria.
“We met in a hotel in Dubai and after we agreed on all details, we headed to my apartment in Ajman where I handed him US$30,000 (Dh110,000). He then showed me a large amount of dollars in his possession,” said S S.
He added B M spoke of how rich he was then gave him some of the cash in his possession and told him to double check it was original from any exchange house.
“When I did, he told me that we can expand our business then he asked me to pay him US$150,000 (Dh550,000) more, which I did,” said S S.
The victim said he met with B M again and the defendant told S S that he was under a spell and he needs to be treated. “He introduced me to a man he identified as A A and told me that he can lift up the spell but I have to pay US$200,000 (Dh734,500), he then showed me money telling me he was rich but my own money has to be used in my treatment,” said S S, who called friends in France to arrange the cash.
For nearly six months, the victim underwent alleged “treatment sessions”, during which he was asked to pay more money and was convicted that the payments will be returned once he was cured.
In April last year, S S was introduced to the other two defendants after B M informed him they will resume his sessions because A A “failed” in his treatment.
“I visited them in the apartment which I rented for them and I saw a large amount of dollars with them so I got scared and confused. Later the same day, I met with a Sudani friend by coincidence who noticed I was not well, so I told him everything and he said that I fell a prey to some con artists and I should report them,” said S S.
On November 15 last year, S S reported the incident to police.
The three men were arrested at their apartment in Al Riqqa area on November 18 where police found the fake dollars.
N T was introduced to the defendants by S S and he paid them US$150,000 (Dh550,000) to become partner in business. “They showed me hundreds of thousands of US dollars to gain my trust and convince me they were not criminals,” N T told prosecutors.
He added he was also told he needed to be cured from black magic and paid the trio US$40,000 (Dh147,000) for a few sessions.
Prosecutors said the men confessed to charges during interrogations.
The next hearing will be on March 16.
salamir@thenational.ae