UAE man jailed for paying Dh30,000 to sorcerers and sharing wife's private photos to win her back
The man's attempts included contacting three different sorcerers, spending Dh30,000 overall, before the authorities intervened and arrested him/ Representational Image
A man in the UAE has been sentenced to six months in prison after being convicted of engaging in sorcery and violating the privacy of his estranged wife and her family. The Fujairah Court of Appeal upheld the initial ruling, which also included the confiscation and destruction of materials seized during the investigation.
The case came to light after the wife filed a police report, accusing her husband of using black magic against her, their children, and her relatives. Her suspicions were confirmed when she was contacted by a spiritual healer who provided her with WhatsApp messages and photos that directly implicated her husband.
According to a report by
Emarat Al Youm
, the husband admitted during police interrogation that he had gone online in search of someone who could cast love spells to restore his failing marriage.
He found a woman from another Arab country promoting herself on social media as an expert in 'bringing back loved ones.' He contacted her via WhatsApp and paid her Dh20,000. As part of the ritual, he sent her personal images of his wife, a video of himself, and their phone numbers.
Things took a turn when the woman demanded an additional Dh25,000. When he refused, she threatened to expose his actions by sending the compromising content to his wife.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money
Expertinspector
Click Here
Undo
Undeterred by the threat, the man turned to another practitioner, paying Dh10,000 for a second attempt at spellwork. When that too failed, he contacted a third woman who didn't initially request money, but before anything could proceed further, he was apprehended by authorities.
Meanwhile, the wife had already moved out of their home two months earlier and had initiated divorce proceedings due to alleged abuse. Her suspicions regarding her husband's use of sorcery were further confirmed when a woman — believed to be connected to the earlier 'spiritual healer' — contacted her from outside the UAE and offered evidence of his actions for Dh35,000.
Refusing to pay without seeing proof, the wife was sent photos, a video, and images of magical rituals.
These materials were handed over to the police.
The Public Prosecution brought four formal charges against the man:
Engaging in fraudulent activities and sorcery with unknown individuals (whose phone numbers were later traced),
Endangering others,
Violating personal privacy by transmitting private images through WhatsApp,
Illegally possessing and distributing private materials.
These charges fell under the UAE's cybercrime and fraud laws and were classified as misdemeanors.
The initial court found the evidence compelling and handed down a six-month prison sentence, along with an order to confiscate and destroy the incriminating digital materials.
The man appealed the ruling, denying all charges in court. However, the appellate court rejected his claims, citing clear evidence and sound legal reasoning in the original verdict.
The appeal was dismissed, and the six-month jail sentence was officially upheld by the Fujairah Court of Appeal. The case has garnered public attention for highlighting the intersection of digital privacy, superstition, and the misuse of technology in personal relationships.
No further charges were reported against the spiritual healers involved, though their identities and phone numbers were part of the investigation. The court's final decision underlined the UAE's firm stance against sorcery, fraud, and cyber-enabled privacy violations.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
22 minutes ago
- Time of India
B Pharma student among 3 arrested for online fraud
Lucknow: UP STF on Friday arrested three persons, including a B Pharma student, from Bhopal for a cyber scam in which they lured victims through social media platforms by promising handsome returns on completing fake "tasks. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now " The trio was arrested from Danish Nagar, Hoshangabad Road, in a joint operation with Amethi Police. STF ASP Vishal Vikram Singh said: "Victims were invited to join private Telegram groups via fraudulent links, where they were enticed to complete small digital 'tasks' in exchange for inflated financial rewards. Initial earnings were credited into fake wallets to build trust, but as victims invested more, they were trapped in an endless cycle of deposits, losing lakhs in the process." Those arrested included the alleged mastermind and a B Pharma student at Bhabha University, Bhopal, Shivansh Mishra (22) of Shahdol (MP). His childhood friend Ravi Singh (23) also from Shahdol, and maternal uncle Umashankar Tiwari (43) of Bhopal were also arrested. Police also seized three mobiles, 16 debit cards, 15 cheque books, nine bank passbooks and 359 screenshots of incriminating WhatsApp conversations related to cyber fraud, one PAN card, one driving licence, and one IGT Solutions employee ID card. One of the complainants, Ashish Vikram Singh from Amethi, filed an FIR, detailing how he was targeted. Ashish received a Facebook link promoting a "work-from-home reward scheme." Upon clicking, he was added to a Telegram group where he was assigned digital tasks. After depositing Rs10,000, he received a bonus of Rs 2,512, giving the appearance of legitimacy. Encouraged, Ashish completed 28 rounds of "tasks". At one point, a balance of Rs 9.13 lakh appeared in the digital wallet, and he was promised he could withdraw it after completing a final task worth Rs 3.16 lakh. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But when he attempted to withdraw, he was told to deposit additional "security amounts" — first Rs 2.25 lakh, then Rs3 lakh more, and finally Rs 6.3 lakh for "VIP access." Ultimately, he was defrauded of Rs13 lakh. The ASP said Shivansh and Ravi were briefly recruited at a Bhopal call centre operated by IGT Solutions. There, they met cyber fraud recruiters — Zubair Khan, Saif Khan, and Anil Nayar and Amit Nayar — who ran a parallel racket involving rented bank accounts. For every new bank account with full access kits (ATM card, cheque book, SIM card, login credentials), Shivansh and the team were paid Rs15,000 and a share in the illicit earnings. They created nearly 50 bank accounts over the last year, often using forged documents or by convincing acquaintances. These accounts served as primary money mules.
Time of India
22 minutes ago
- Time of India
4 death penalties secured, 458 cases fast-tracked in a yr
Lucknow: As part of its 'Operation Conviction' campaign, the Uttar Pradesh govt has secured four death penalties and fast-tracked 458 cases of heinous crimes under the new criminal laws since July 2024. These include death penalties for four criminals in Badaun, Hathras and Kanpur Dehat, life imprisonment for 10, over 20 years' jail for 19, and under 20 years' jail for 425 offenders. Total number of convictions secured in the last two years, since July 2023, has crossed 97,000, officials said. Union home minister Amit Shah hailed UP's legal efficiency at the Central Zonal Council meeting in Varanasi earlier this week and termed it as a model for the country. Director general, prosecution, Deepesh Juneja said swift trials, robust evidence presentation, and video testimony helped fast-track convictions and saved Rs 25 crore through reduced court appearances. "The transformation of UP under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is drawing national and international praise. Since July 1, 2023, due to the govt's zero-tolerance policy on crime, the state's 'Operation Conviction' has secured over 97,185 convictions," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "The swift implementation of three new criminal laws and fast-tracking of 458 key cases since July last year have bolstered this drive. Union home minister Amit Shah lauded these efforts in the recent CZC meeting in Varanasi," Juneja added. "Effective implementation of the three new criminal laws is not only propelling UP towards a crime-free status but also setting an exemplary model for the entire nation. At least 458 heinous cases registered under the new laws have seen convictions. These include death penalty for four criminals, life imprisonment for 10, imprisonment of less than 20 years for 425 offenders, and over 20 years' imprisonment for 19 others," he said. "The prosecution effectively presented evidence and witness testimonies, making full use of the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to strengthen and expedite the judicial process. The govt also ensured witness protection, systematic evidence collection, and timely presence in court — all essential elements of a fair trial," he said. "Since July 1, 2024, effective use of digital documentation and witness statements via video conferencing has taken place in the hearing of 25,000 cases across the state. This significantly reduced the need for police and govt witnesses to appear repeatedly in court, resulting in an estimated cost saving of Rs 25 crore for govt," he said.
Time of India
22 minutes ago
- Time of India
Last DNA match done, 260 bodies handed over: Min
Ahmedabad: A gruelling fortnight-long exercise to identify all victims of AI flight 171 finally ended on Friday, with forensic experts finding a DNA match for 32-year-old passenger Anil Khimani. His was the last sample out of 241 passengers and crew that perished in the tragedy, which the experts were toiling to match. Khimani was a native of Dahisara village near Bhuj. His mortal remains were handed over to the family on Saturday, confirmed Civil Hospital officials. With the update, state health minister Rushikesh Patel, in a release, stated that bodies of 260 victims of the air tragedy, which includes 241 passengers and crew and 19 killed on the ground, have been identified and handed over to their kin. Those on board included 181 Indian nationals, 52 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national. Out of the total, 31 were flown for the last rites, whereas the rest were sent by road. "Out of the Indian victims, 73 are from Ahmedabad, 29 from Anand, 24 from Vadodara, 14 from Diu, 13 from Maharashtra, 12 from Surat, and 11 from Kheda among others," the minister stated in the release. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Health department officials said that none of the samples given by relatives remain unmatched. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo "In case any remains are found from the crash site, identification will be carried out," said a senior official. Meanwhile, sources saidthat Khimani, who had travelled to other countries for work, was flying to the UK for the first time. His family had been desperately praying for the match. Khimani is survived by his wife and children, the sources said.
