'Witch doctor' took money for 'human sacrifices in Africa'

A self-proclaimed witch doctor told police, who caught him carrying £10,000 cash, that the money was to be used for human sacrifice in Africa.

The 28-year-old was stopped in Edgbaston early last year, he told officers he had acquired the money from his 'clients' telling them that it would be sent to Africa to ‘make their dreams and wishes come true’.

The man was arrested on suspicion of money laundering on the 15th May in Bearwood after further investigations found discrepancies in his earnings, which the man said was also from his 'job' as a security guard at a shopping centre' but police later found this to be untrue.

He was later released without charge, but officers from West Midlands Police took him to court under the Proceeds of Crime Act because of suspicions that the cash had been obtained illegally.

Officers proved the 'witch doctor' had obtained £28,500 through tax evasion, misleading his 'clients' and lying about his employment.

Magistrates were showed that money transferred in and out of his account on a frequent basis did not tally with his declared income.

The court also heard how very little money was being transferred to Africa, the money that was being sent across was actually being used to slaughter camels the police later discovered.

The man was ordered to forfeit the cash, Detective Sergeant Ian Bulloch said: