South Asian swindler jailed in Britain

Niem Mohammed claimed his skills as a faith healer and spiritualist had been passed down through generations. The 41-year-old said he lived in Pakistan when he was aged five to 18 to learn about his culture and maintained his gift had been passed down his family. But Wolverhampton Crown Court was told he was a swindler who took advantage of vulnerable people. Mohammed, who has a luxury home in Cheshire and drives a Bentley and a Ferrari, charged a Smethwick couple £9,650 to break a black magic spell he said was placed on the woman by her jealous sister and he told her he would use prayer to help her conceive a child with her partner. He also took £1,300 off a woman to help mend a broken relationship and, when nothing happened, he told her he needed a further £1,800. Mohammed further threatened her that he would send a Sikh ghost to destroy her home and family if she did not pay up. He said that Mohammed claimed he was born at a place of pilgrimage in India when in fact he was born in Liverpool. Mohammed was found guilty on 11 charges of fraud. In his defence Mohammed demonstrated to the jury his meditation and prayer techniques and showed them his scrolls and talismans.