Legal News

A man who posed as a devotee of Indian spiritual master Sai Baba – and who allegedly conned £650,000 out of people who became his followers – has denied charges of blackmail against him.

The Daily Mail reports that 50-year-old Mohammed Ashrafi from Leicester allegedly passed himself off as a faith healer to con his victims out of large amounts of money, in exchange for using his faith healing powers to help them.

Leicester Crown Court heard that Mr Ashrafi told believers that he had the power to perform miracles – 18 “believers” handed over their life savings to Ashrafi after he told them they were going to win the National Lottery.

The prosecution told the court:

“He's a clever and a sophisticated con artist and a fraudster.

“When they'd given him all they had, some borrowed from friends – even taking out loans. It exceeds £650,000.

“He assumed a persona – calling himself Kamal-Ji – claiming he could pray through Sai Baba and they would win the National or Euro lotteries.

“He demonstrated his abilities as a magician – and would rub his hands together and produce prayer beads as if from thin air.

”This trick was repeated to many victims – it drew them in and they relied on it that he was connected to Sai Baba, like it was a miracle.”

Ashrafi denies 14 counts of fraud involving the 18 believers he took money from between January and April 2014.

He also denies blackmailing a couple out of £50,000 last February, by drugging the woman, filming sensitive material containing her while she was unconscious – and then threatening to upload the video online.

The jury was told that to promote himself as a spiritual guru, Ashrafi spent money on leaflets, which he had delivered to addresses in Leicester – and also bought newspaper and radio space to advertise.

He advertised his services as “free” – including faith healing and astrology services to help with personal problems, such as marital difficulties, childlessness, ill health and business problems.

Ashrafi used “magic” to convince his followers of his powers, the court heard. One one occasion, a “believer” was asked to make dough balls from rice flour for Ashrafi to cook on a portable stove. One of the balls was later found to contain a piece of silver foil with a Euro ticket inside, after it was cut open, the court heard.

Ashrafi left the Leicester area in March last year – and it was then some of those who had been devotees realised they had been conned.

The trial continues.

Duncan Lewis Fraud Lawyers

Duncan Lewis can advise at any stage of a charge involving fraud, including financial fraud, obtaining money or services by deception, boiler room scams, Ponzi schemes or pyramid sales schemes.

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For expert legal advice on all fraud charges call Duncan Lewis fraud lawyers on 020 7923 4020.