DAMMAM — The story may sound far-fetched, but it all began about 10 years ago when a Saudi man in his 30s could not find a job though he had completed training at a vocational training institute. For a year and a half after graduation, the job remained elusive. Then an idea of making easy money occurred to him by accident when he saw a beggar sitting outside a supermarket. On the spot, he decided to join the trade and make begging his profession. He noticed that within few minutes the beggar made good money and said to himself that this was a job worth considering. He did not lose any time. The next day, he printed out an electricity bill for a high amount and a medical report he found on the Internet that showed he was too sick to work. He wrapped the medical report and the electricity bill carefully so that they might not get damaged. He chose a place not frequented by beggars and began "work". In less than five hours between the Asr and Isha prayers, he managed to collect about SR450. He repeated the experience and his financial condition began to improve quickly. The young man discovered that people are more lenient toward women so he began begging disguised as a woman. His daily income soared up by more than 12 folds. On the first day in a woman's dress, the young man collected about SR5,700. His money began to accumulate and in a short span of eight years his wealth reached millions of riyals. He soon became a distinguished customer in a number of banks. He decided to move into a new stage of life by getting married. He claimed that he had obtained a high-paying job in a company in Jubail Industrial City, bought a brand new car and a luxurious apartment. He got married and was subsequently blessed with two children. As time passed, his conscience started pricking him. He began feeling very guilty and the fact that his money was unlawful preoccupied him all the time. Eventually, he stopped withdrawing money from the banks. He sold his luxurious apartment and bought a less expensive one instead. Even so, the thought that his money was earned through unscrupulous means devastated him and at the same time the ghost of poverty in his life before he became rich continued to hound him. He lost his all peace of mind and could not sleep like normal people. He became very distributed and what made things worse was his wife, who had no idea he was a beggar, suddenly asked for a divorce. He went to a psychiatric hospital where he was diagnosed with acute depression. He began to receive treatment and his health started to improve. The only sickness that remained without cure in him was his immense wealth that he had collected from begging. Dr. Hatim Al-Ghamdi, a psychiatrist in Jeddah, said unemployment made the young man seek easy means to make money, which was begging. He said his deep realization that what he was doing was against human dignity and honor was behind his decision to disguise as a woman so that he will not be recognized by his friends and relatives. Al-Ghamdi said the young man was torn between his desire to earn easy money through begging and his realization that the money he earned was illegal and this turned him into a psychopath. He advised the young man to continue his treatment and to donate his wealth to welfare activities in favor of the poor and needy so that his conscience will be come clear. "This is the only way to revive his self-esteem and sense of honor," Al-Ghamdi said.
