Abdulrahman Al-Ali Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Police arrested a Yemeni expatriate who used to con his fellow countrymen by giving them the impression that he could offer them work visas in return for cash paid to him in advance following an undercover operation. The con man would disappear with the money leaving the duped high and dry. The con man printed tens of stickers to inform people on his activities and capability to obtain visas. He then distributed them in shops where workers generally gather. Those who wanted to work in Saudi Arabia would then approach him, either through a friend or relative. He charged SR20,000 per visa. Once he received the money, he would disappear and rework this strategy in another area where his countrymen lived in large numbers. After carrying out this con once too often, some of those stung by the con men registered a police complaint. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID), once tipped on this deception, set up a working team under Jeddah Police Director Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Ghamdi and being supervised by the Director of CID. The team kept the alleged con man under surveillance and spotted him meeting a client. The team gathered information on his style of work and sent him a fake client, who gave him the impression that he had a relative outside Jeddah governorate who wanted to bring his family. He asked the alleged con man to fetch visas for his family members and the former demanded SR21,000. The fake client agreed to pay the amount. The alleged con man's movements were shadowed and the policemen after tailing him located his den. The police then surrounded the area, inspected the den and was caught red handed with large amounts of cash in his possession. Jeddah police spokesman First Lt. Nawaf Al-Bouq said the police would continue to pursue violators of the law, whether they are violators of the residency (iqama) or labor regulations. It was only after observing the man for several days did the police confirm he was carrying out illegal activity. He was apprehended and work is on now to confirm the number of victims who he managed to dupe but did not report him to the security authorities. He further said that several visas were found in the possession of the alleged con man, apart from mobile telephones and SR21,000 in cash. He was handed over to Al-Shimaliah police station for further investigations.
