'Black magic' healer who conned women out of ?150,000 and claimed to sacrifice crocodiles is jailed.
Con artist Abdoulie Gassama
A bogus faith healer conned three women into giving him ?150,000 by claiming his ?black magic? powers could magically fix their personal problems.
Abdoulie Gassama told his victims he needed extra money for expensive rituals - including sacrificing crocodiles and cows.
The ?desperate? women, who feared something terrible would happen if they did not pay up, were ?bled dry? - with two of them giving the fraudster their life savings.
Gassama then ploughed a large amount of the cash he had extorted into ?lavish? property developments in the Gambia.
Gassama, 34, of Kings Norton, Birmingham had previously pleaded guilty to 19 charges of fraud and one of money laundering, reports the Birmingham Mail.
He has now been jailed for seven-and-half years.
Ben Mills, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court, said Gassama had advertised his services, claiming to be a faith healer, over a 13 month period, between May 2014 and June 2015.
He claimed 40 years experience - but was only 34
He would give himself different Sheikh names and the adverts would be accompanied by photos of someone wearing spiritual clothing who was not him.
Mr Mills said Gassama claimed he could help people with emotional problems: ?When you look at the words in the advert he was plainly targeting people who were emotionally vulnerable.
?He is 34 but he was claiming to have 40 years experience of faith healing.
Con artist Abdoulie Gassama
A bogus faith healer conned three women into giving him ?150,000 by claiming his ?black magic? powers could magically fix their personal problems.
Abdoulie Gassama told his victims he needed extra money for expensive rituals - including sacrificing crocodiles and cows.
The ?desperate? women, who feared something terrible would happen if they did not pay up, were ?bled dry? - with two of them giving the fraudster their life savings.
Gassama then ploughed a large amount of the cash he had extorted into ?lavish? property developments in the Gambia.
Gassama, 34, of Kings Norton, Birmingham had previously pleaded guilty to 19 charges of fraud and one of money laundering, reports the Birmingham Mail.
He has now been jailed for seven-and-half years.
Ben Mills, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court, said Gassama had advertised his services, claiming to be a faith healer, over a 13 month period, between May 2014 and June 2015.
He claimed 40 years experience - but was only 34
He would give himself different Sheikh names and the adverts would be accompanied by photos of someone wearing spiritual clothing who was not him.
Mr Mills said Gassama claimed he could help people with emotional problems: ?When you look at the words in the advert he was plainly targeting people who were emotionally vulnerable.
?He is 34 but he was claiming to have 40 years experience of faith healing.
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