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.