JEDDAH: Local police have arrested an African national accused of swindling a Saudi businessman in the Eastern Province out of more than SR2 million, Al-Madinah daily reported on Saturday.

Police sources said the arrested allegedly fooled the Saudi businessman into believing he was sent by an African prime minister to look for a trustworthy business partner in the Kingdom.

The conman informed his victim via e-mail that the female head of an African state wanted to invest a considerable part of her $50 billion earnings in Saudi Arabia. He told the businessman he was in his own country and would shortly come to the Kingdom to discuss details of the business partnership, the police source said. In fact, he had been operating from the Bawadi district in Jeddah all this time.

Four days after the call, he met with his victim in the Eastern Province and took SR750,000 as an initial fee.

A few days later the fraudster called, claiming the partnership had been approved and the prime minister had agreed to give the businessman $5 million as an initial investment. However, he demanded a further SR1 million as his fee and to meet him in Jeddah to make the payment. The businessman agreed to his terms.

After he received his money the fraudster gave a suitcase, claiming it contained the $5 million promised by the prime minister. He also warned it should not be opened until the businessman reached his home in the Eastern Province. When he eventually opened the suitcase the victim found nothing but bundles of black paper in the size of dollar bills. When he complained to the conman, he was told to go to Jeddah again with SR300,000 and he would learn how to make dollars out of black paper.

When they met the fraudster poured some chemical water on the paper and then produced several thousands of dollars he had cleverly hidden in the suitcase. Baffled by the technique the Saudi nevertheless paid the SR300,000 and returned home with the suitcase and some chemical water. When he returned home and poured the chemical on the black paper nothing happened. The businessman finally realized he had been fooled and contacted police. Officers raided a building in the Bawadi district and arrested the man.

Jeddah police spokesman Col. Misfar Al-Joaed said the accused has been handed to the Eastern Province police for further investigation.