According to media reports, a 47-year-old woman was taking a lunch break in Darling Harbour on 9 January when a man claiming to be a spiritual guide approached her.
After the pair started a conversation, the man offered to perform a blessing involving placing a coconut over her jewellery. At a later meeting, the jewellery was replaced with empty boxes and other items during the blessing.
The woman later reported the incident to the police, and a 25-year-old man was arrested in Darling Harbour last week. The possessions were recovered during a police search of a hostel in central Sydney.
The man was charged with fraud offences and granted conditional bail.
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