Foreign 'professor' apprehended for trying to cheat rector

Foreign 'professor' apprehended for trying to cheat rector

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

A Pakistani claiming to be a professor was arrested by Bogor
Police after he tried to hypnotize Ibnu Khaldum University (UIK)
rector Didin Saefudin on Wednesday.

Sawaran Singh, 63, who claimed to be a lecturer at Gadjah Mada
University in Yogyakarta, arrived at the UIK Campus on Jl. Soleh
Iskandar, Bogor at around 10 a.m.

After introducing himself, Singh began demonstrating his skill
by asking Didin to write the names of two flowers on a sheet of
paper. Singh held another sheet of paper in his hand.

According to Didin, the names of the flowers he wrote were
exactly the same as the names on the paper held by Singh -- rose
and sunflower.

"I was amazed by his ability," Didin said at the Bogor Police
precinct, after giving a statement to the police about his
experience with the "professor".

Didin said that he got carried away after Singh's predicted
that Didin would become rich and successful. Didin said he was
not aware that he was following whatever his guest suggested.

Singh told Didin that he would come again to the campus 21
days from Wednesday.

Later, Didin was aware that Singh was trying to hypnotize him
after Singh asked for US$200 from him by writing it on a sheet of
paper. Didin gave Singh Rp 50,000 (US$5.56), but the Pakistani
refused it.

Then Singh wrote Rp 1 million on the paper.

UIK deputy rector Abdurrahman Abdullah, who was watching Singh
from outside the door of his boss' room, was suspicious about the
behavior of the Pakistani guest.

Knowing that Singh had asked Didin for money, Abdurrahman
entered the room and asked Singh to show his passport. Initially,
Singh refused to show it, but later he gave his passport to
Abdurrahman.

As Singh insisted on asking for money from Didin, Abdurrahmand
decided to report his guest to the police.

Singh, who holds a Pakistani passport with No. 2-1366399 and a
visa from Singapore was then detained by Bogor Police for
questioning.