The High Civil Court has delivered a significant victory to a couple who were victims of a complex fraud scheme orchestrated by a sorcerer and his accomplice.

The High Civil Court ordered the pair to pay the couple substantial compensation for defrauding them of their property under the guise of removing a curse. The couple, hoping to conceive a child, sought the sorcerer’s help.

Exploiting their vulnerability, the defendants convinced them that their land, valued at approximately BD100,000, was cursed and needed to be transferred to the sorcerer to break the spell.

Tactic Using the same tactic, they also acquired two vehicles (worth around BD6,000) and gold jewelry (BD7,000) belonging to the couple. The couple subsequently filed a criminal complaint, leading to a three-year prison sentence for the sorcerer.

His accomplice was initially acquitted but later received a two-year prison sentence and a 5,000 Bahrain dinar fine after a successful appeal by the prosecution.

In the civil case, the court ordered the defendants to jointly pay the husband approximately BD96,800, the wife BD800, and a further BD1,100 to both as compensation for damages.

Equivalent value The court also ruled that the land and vehicles must be returned to the couple, or their equivalent value must be paid.

Evidence presented included WhatsApp messages between the husband and the sorcerer, detailing financial transactions totaling BD17,500, further solidifying the fraudulent nature of the scheme.

The couple’s lawyer, Zahra Hassan, successfully argued for the annulment of the land sale contract, citing coercion, deception, and exploitation.

She also secured additional compensation for the couple’s displacement from their home.