Riyadh: A squad from the Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has raided the house of a Saudi man following a tip off that he is practising sorcery.

It was reported that the suspect has bewitched a girl and married her without the knowledge of her family.

Following investigation, the suspect was put in jail, awaiting trial. Saudi Arabia applies capital punishment for sorcery.

The incident, which took place in Riyadh, came to light when a security guard, working for a private company, accused a fellow citizen of bewitching his daughter and his other family members and used magic to marry the girl without a marriage contract.

The squad obtained the mobile number and address of the house of the suspect, who was caught asking payment from a client.

Religious police found clothes belonging to the girl in the suspect's home.

Sources close to the case said that the suspect was an accomplice in a similar case and was once reported for abusing his nieces.

The Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice said it is conducting awareness programmes against the practice of withcraft.