DUBAI // Three Sudanese men have been jailed for two years for conning two Algerians out of more than Dh3 million after convincing them they were under a black magic spell.
The men, aged between 40 and 53, scammed the victims, ages 44 and 37, by first convincing them to invest in a meat export company and later telling them they needed special treatment to lift the spell.
The 37-year-old met one of the defendants in 2013 through friends and made plans to start a business exporting meat from Sudan to Algeria.
“We met in a hotel in Dubai and after we agreed on all the details we headed to my apartment in Ajman where I handed him US$30,000 (Dh110,000),” said the victim.
“He then showed me a large amount of US dollars in his possession.”
He later paid another Dh550,000.
At the next meeting, he was told he was under a black -magic spell and needed treatment.
“He introduced me to a man who told me he could lift the spell but I had to pay US$200,000,” said the victim who later called friends in France for the money.
For almost six months the Algerian underwent “treatment sessions” during which he was asked to pay more money.
In April last year, the victim was introduced to the two other Sudanese men.
They said they needed to carry out more treatment because the first defendant had failed to cure him.
“I visited them in the apartment that I rented for them and saw a large amount of US dollars so I got scared and confused. Later the same day, I met with a Sudanese friend by coincidence.
“I told him everything and he said that I had fallen prey to con artists,” said the victim, who -reported the men to police on November 15.
The 44-year-old Algerian was introduced to the defendants by his compatriot and paid them $150,000 to become a partner in the meat business.
“They showed me hundreds of thousands of US dollars to gain my trust and convince me they were not criminals.”
He was also told he needed to be cured of black magic and paid $40,000.
In total, the victims paid Dh3.48 million to the Sudanese men.
They were arrested at their apartment in Al Riqqa on November 18 where police also found counterfeit US dollars worth Dh1.28 million.
The men denied being in possession of fake currency and conning the Algerians when they appeared at Dubai Criminal Court.
They were convicted and jointly fined Dh10,000. They will be deported after completing their jail terms.
salamir@thenational.ae