Abu Dhabi Police foiled a scam led by two African individuals, a hairdresser and a visitor, pretending to have the ability to resolve marital disputes by removing magic spells through locks of human hair and talismans of pyramidal forms.
Colonel Rashid Mohammed Borshid, Head of Organized Crime in the Department of Criminal Investigation at Abu Dhabi Police said police arrested the culprits as soon as they received reports confirming their involvement in witchcraft and sorcery, for 50 thousand dirham per therapeutic session. Police also managed to seize tools used in the crime.
He explained that the issue dates back to the middle of last month, when police received information from reliable sources, about two individuals of Arab nationality, a woman called "Z. M" (36 years), and a man called "M.S" (50 years), practicing witchcraft and sorcery, who lure victims under false allegations, claiming to have the ability to undo magic spells and reconcile litigant or out of love couples.
Borshid added: “Based on this information, a police team was formed to investigate the allegations. Once the information was validated, legal proceedings were undertaken and a female police officer was sent undercover to communicate with the first suspect, claiming marital differences and asking for a radical solution to fix her family relationship”.
He continued: “The suspect, working at a beauty salon for women promised the undercover police officer to solve her problems with the help of her accomplice, the second suspect. The two sides agreed on meeting at a designated location in Abu Dhabi. The undercover officer was asked to bring a lock of hair from her unsuspecting husband during his sleep, in order to achieve the plan successfully”.
Borshid went on saying that it was agreed between the undercover police officer and the suspects to meet the following day with the required amount of money. On the agreed date, the second suspect delivered the magic tools to the undercover officer with the appropriate methods to use them. In return, she handed him the cash sum of money agreed upon, which is 50 thousand Dirham.
Moreover, Borshid continued: “Upon receipt of payment, the place was raided; the suspects were arrested and taken into custody for investigation. The hairdresser confessed her crimes, while the visitor pretended conducting a legitimate exorcism work and not witchcraft, pro bono, leaving to the customer to decide remuneration. Eventually, both suspects were sent to jail”.
The Head of Organized Crime department explained that the seized material are items commonly used in magic, sorcery and spells, including locks of human hair, scraps of paper containing spells, puzzles of pyramidal forms, metal cans to keep amulets, metal foil, incense, jars containing liquid and dry materials, powders, perfumes, cosmetic kohl, cotton rolls, fabric, and medical drugs used in magic.
Colonel Dr. Borshid stated that witchcraft and sorcery is a dangerous practice, threatening the security of society, by manipulating people and exploiting their needs with fraudulent schemes. He called on members of society to report individuals who practice witchcraft and refrain from dealing with them, or revealing their secrets to them, so as not to be exploited by them, stressing Abu Dhabi Police's commitment to its community responsibility, through fighting crime.
Finally, Borshid urged people to resort to professional psychologists, social workers and family relations specialists, because they have the experience and competence in dealing with all kinds of problems and family disputes, and can help them overcome these problems through dialogue, not with magic and sorcery, according to him.