A man accused of attempting to swindle money out of complainants and claiming he could rid one of them of evil spirits had his bail extended when he appeared in court recently.

The man, Owen Thomas, who was charged with attempting to obtain money by means of false pretence will reappear in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on July 22.

The Crown alleged that on April 25, about 3:30 p.m., the complainant received a call from his sister, who told him that a man known as 'Cudjoe' called her about an overseas work programme in The Cayman Islands.

It is further alleged that the complainant's sister said Cudjoe instructed her to pay the sum of $10,000 to a woman at a bar in St Mary, who would assist her to obtain her plane fare. However, she ignored the caller's instructions. It is said the complainant decided to contact Cudjoe. It is alleged that he told the accused that he was seeking an obeah man.

It is also said that the accused man immediately began telling the complainant that spirits were in his house and that he had seen it through his crystal ball.

It is further being alleged that the complainant was told that in order for him to be relieved of the evil spirits, he would have to pay the sum of $95,000, which would cover the cost of a 'Goliath Stone' and silver coins.

The stone would have supposedly relieve the complainant of the evil spirits and the silver stones would have enabled him to have more money.

Thomas then allegedly gave the complainant a bank account number for him to deposit the $95,000.

An arrangement was then made for both parties to meet at a tax office. Instead, the information was relayed to the police who apprehended Thomas and two other persons.

During the operation, the police seized cell phones, three silver coins and papers with names and addresses.