Italian held for duping women into having sex

Rome, July 12 (IANS/AKI) Police in Italy's northern city of Milan arrested a self-styled "healer" for allegedly duping women into buying 200,000 euros of "magic potions" from him and for sexually abusing dozens of them.

Franco Uggetti, 62, who called himself "Wizard Franco", psychologically dominated women of varying ages who came to him for remedies and advice about their private lives, investigators said.

Before sexually abusing many of the women, he made them buy items such as candles, which he sold as good-luck charms. The candles cost 300 euros each.

When his tarot card readings, potions and charms failed to heal the women, he assaulted them sexually, telling them they would soon feel better, investigators said.

Police said they uses wiretaps and bugging devices to gather evidence against the man.

The investigation on Uggeti, who was unemployed, lasted two years, police said.

--IANS/AKI

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