Dubai: Three men have been accused of fooling a jobless person and attempting to con him out of Dh276,000 by claiming that they deal with astrology and signs and promising to fill his pockets with easy cash quickly.

The Sudanese trio, two visitors and a businessman, were said to have conned the 42-year-old Omani when they promised over the phone in August that they have magic powers to fill his pockets with money.

The trio were said to have claimed to the person that they possessed $465,300 in banknotes that bore the UN stamp. They also tried to talk him into paying them money to buy some scent and what they described as holy water to remove the UN stamp before the dollars turned into real money.

Prosecutors charged the 35-year-old businessman, M.A., and hispartners, 44-year-old M.I. and 41-year-old A.A., with possessing counterfeit US dollars for trading purposes, attempted swindling and deception.

A fourth suspect, who remains at large, is said to have participated in the aforementioned crime, according to prosecution records.

The trio entered a not guilty plea when they defended themselves before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Sunday.

I did not even see that money we are not guilty, M.I. told presiding judge Mohammad Jamal in courtroom three.

Law enforcement officers fabricated these allegations against us. We dont know anything about the money, M.A. argued.

The Omani person testified to prosecutors that he received a phone call on his mobile from an unknown person who claimed to be a religious scholar who deals with astronomy.

He identified himself as Shaikh Abdullah and said he has the power to make me gain money but he asked me to pay him cash to buy scent and holy water. I met him in Al Ain where he claimed that he could earn me money through his astronomical knowledge and reading of the stars. I refused to pay him Dh7,000 to buy any substance. I met him again after 20 days and he brought a material similar to saffron which he claimed he paid Dh3,500 for he alleged that that material helps in calling spirits that would help him double my money. I did not pay him anything. When he contacted me a third time, I was in Dubai. The so-called Abdullah said he was travelling and gave me M.I.s number to communicate with him. I met M.I. in a car in Al Baraha and he claimed that he had read my signs and that I was lucky and he would be able to bring me money through astronomy. Thereafter, I reported the matter to the police, claimed the Omani.

Originally posted here:

Trio con person claiming they deal in astronomy