CAIRO: Al Giza police arrested black magician Layla Ahmed Hassan, also known as Om Gihan, Al Gomhuria newspaper reported Wednesday. The 51-year-old Embaba sorceress made a living by claiming she had supernatural powers that could solve her clients' problems and cure their illnesses using special mixtures of spices and talismans, Al Gomhuria quoted Officer Mohamed Zakah as saying. He added that Hassan had been practicing black magic for 15 years and was arrested 10 years ago for a similar crime. One of Hassan's victims, who was present during the arrest, told police that the black magician charged LE 100 for a talisman to supposedly prevent her husband from taking a second wife. Hassan confessed to her crimes, claiming that her clients included rich people living in fancy Cairo neighborhoods. She was remanded in custody pending investigation. When the police searched her apartment, they found pieces of paper inscribed with strange symbols, some talismans and random photographs of men and women. They also found a plastic bag full of sugar cubes with the same symbols; incense, ink, black candles and three books on sorcery. In her apartment, authorities also found men and women's underwear as well as a plastic bag full of a red powder called dam ghazal, which can be used to make fake blood. A number of necklaces and prayer beads used in the rituals were also confiscated.
