| Elaborate astrology scam bustedâ¦By Leonard Gildarie and Dale AndrewsThe Ministry of Home Affairs has reportedly ordered police to arrest several Indian nationals after they allegedly scammed several Guyanese into believing they possessed mystical powers capable of solving problems.The men, who described themselves as Indiaâs Most Famous Astrologer, Pandits and other such fancy sounding titles, have all disappeared.It is believed that within a seven-week period, they raked in millions of dollars.Police are specifically looking for one at David Street, Kitty.Police are said to be searching for this Indian national who allegedly scammed hundreds of thousands of dollars from unsuspecting Guyanese.Emerging evidence suggests that the âpanditâ had at least four other accomplices, also Indians, who operated on the East Coast, East Bank and West Bank Demerara. Police are also looking for them. It is now believed that the men arrived together on three-month visas and went their separate ways.VanishedChecks at an exclusive residential area at Ruimzeight yesterday found that the âpanditâ there hurriedly left Saturday without paying his rent.According to a businessman who operated a home close to an Ashram, almost seven weeks ago, an Indian national rented his place for $40,000 per month.âHe did not tell me what he wanted to do. Another Indian came and I refused to rent him another place.âThe Ruimzeight residence saw a steady stream of visitors with many persons coming with all kinds of problems including sickness, domestic and money problems.On Saturday, hours after Kaieteur News had visited the David Street, Kitty operations, the Ruimzeight businessman said that he received a call from his tenant who indicated that he had an emergency in India and had to leave. There was still rent owing.A few miles away at a Chinese restaurant in Vreed-en-Hoop, another âpanditâ who moved into the upstairs Saturday left suddenly over the weekend for Berbice. It was unclear when he would be returning.While there,Wholesale Jerseys, Kaieteur News staffers saw one,NFL Jerseys China, obviously sick woman who came to visit the âpanditâ but was met with the padlocked doors.One of the At Bagotstown, another âpanditâ was not available and there was âno idea when he would be backâ.An alleged victim yesterday claimed that he visited the Bagotstown âpanditâ after his wife left him and went overseas.âI tell he I want her back. He tell me to pay $35,000 and he will do a puja and she will come back in three days. I tell he to do the puja and I will pay him $100,000.âAt David Street, religious flowers and other decorations adorning the doorway to the panditâs office/home had been taken down and calls to phones went unanswered.And an official of the Indian High Commission,Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic, when questioned yesterday, said that the Commission is not notified when Indians visit Guyana since the only contact would come when there are requests to renew passports or other immigration issues.FraudstersSpeaking with this newspaper yesterday Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee,Cheap Soccer Jerseys, said that the police have been actively pursuing the fraudsters who he confirmed were not granted work permits.âWe have an exercise to round them up because they are in breach of our laws. We have been tracking them down based on the addresses they advertise,â the minister told Kaieteur News.One of the Indian nationals, who has since disappeared, moved in above this Chinese restaurant in Vreed-en-Hoop on Saturday then disappeared. His ads were running in one of the daily newspapers. In picture, are some women who came to meet him but met with padlocked gates.According to Rohee, there is a widespread view that the activities of these persons are merely economical.âItâs a sham. If these people could tell the future then they do not need to work. They could get enrichment by seeing what is in store for themselves. Let them read their own palms and predict what they need to do to enrich themselves,â the Home Affairs Minister stated.UndercoverLast Friday, Kaieteur Newsâ staffers went undercover to the David Street operations after several complaints were received that huge sums of money were taken by the so-called astrologer who then failed to deliver on promises to solve their problems.The âpanditâ told the Kaieteur News reporter and his co-worker, who posed as his wife,Wholesale NHL Jerseys, that a former wife had worked âblack magicâ over their photos and this was the reason why they were not getting any children.He requested US$225 to perform a puja and guaranteed pregnancy in one month.The âastrologerâ, taking the left hand of the âwifeâ disclosed that her future looked bright, with good possibilities after marriage.After being told that there were no children, the âastrologerâ was convinced that there was a problem. Upon examining the âhusbandâ reporterâs right hand, the astrologer found that there was indeed a problem.âWere you married before?â the reporter was asked. On learning that the reporter was married and had three children, the âastrologerâ revealed that âblack magicâ was at work by someone who killed a âpig, cow and chickenâ over photographs of the âcoupleâ and this was the main cause of problems and her inability to get pregnant.Asked specifically if he was seeing this in his visions, the âastrologerâ said yes.During the undercover session with the âastrologerâ, the phone rang several times – âcome tomorrowâ, âcome Mondayâ were just some of the responses he gave to some callers who obviously had âproblemsâ.According to the âastrologerâ, the reporter and his âwifeâ should not have sex during the time he would be doing the puja, which could last up to three days.âI give you somethingâ¦you put it under your pillow and follow my instructions I will give you after the puja and you will be pregnant after mingling (sex). You will get happiness and peace of mind.âHe was unwilling to take the money in installments.The reporter then revealed himself and presented his credentials to the âastrologerâ. He explained that he was investigating several reports that persons had paid monies to get âhelpâ but were dissatisfied.On being questioned, the âastrologerâ disclosed that he came to Guyana, that it was his first overseas trip from India,Wholesale Jerseys From China, to help Guyanese. He was here on a three-month visitorâs visa.He was unaware that it may be against the law not to seek the approval of the authorities, including the Guyana Revenue Authority.While not denying he had received huge sums of money from several persons, the astrologer claimed that he never received any complaints from âanyoneâ.So far, there have been advertisements on the television and in at least one daily of the astrologerâs services.Kaieteur News has refused to carry such advertisements placed in its pages,nfl jerseys china, after suspicions arose that it was a fraudulent scheme.A Mahaica businessman claimed that he recently paid $46,000 to the âastrologerâ for a âguideâ (protection) to ensure that an extension to his home was blessed and work would progress without any disruptions.Then there was the contractor who claimed that he paid US$225 for his daughter to get well.âThree weeks pass and she still feel sick. I went back to him (the astrologer) and he seh that we gun have to do a bigger puja. I know then that something fishy. I met a woman outside his office and she complain that she pay he $96,000 to fix a sore pun she foot. Two weeks pass and it ainât get better.âSeveral persons have since come forward and have disclosed visits to the astrologer but admitted that the hefty sum being charged was a problem. |
