Man gets 3-month term for witchcraft practice

Abu Dhabi - The Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi upheld earlier rulings by the lower courts that found the Arab man guilty of practising witchcraft.

A resident, convicted of practising witchcraft and causing harm to the body of a woman using sorcery materials, will be deported after serving his three-month jail sentence.
The Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi upheld earlier rulings by the lower courts that found the Arab man guilty of practising witchcraft, possession of sorcery materials and causing injuries to a woman's body when he provided her with sorcery items for use.
Official court documents stated that man was arrested after the Arab woman complained to authorities that he had provided her with sorcery medicines that he claimed would bring blessings to her and also protect her from the evil eye. 
The woman said the witch-doctor had told her to smear the medicines on her body after charging her a big amount of money.
Police arrested the man after investigations revealed that he practised witchcraft. The force also seized items including amulets, talismans and other fabrics materials used in witchcraft. 
The man had denied all the charges stressing that he only possessed herbal medicines and that it was legitimate.
The Court of First Instance had earlier sentenced him to three years in jail and ordered for his deportation from the UAE after serving the jail sentence. 
The man challenged the ruling to the appeal court which maintained the first ruling but reduced the jail sentence to three months. The court also fined him Dh50,000 and ordered for his deportation.
The Arab man went to the UAE's top court which has maintained the appeal court ruling based on the evidence presented by prosecutors.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com
 

• UAE
• Abu Dhabi