Singing star Cher became an innocent pawn in a fraud by a jet-setting conman posing as an Arab prince, a court heard.

Smooth-talking Saudi Arabian businessman Sulaiman Al Kehaimi fooled international celebrities and social high-flyers into believing he was one of the world's wealthiest men.

At Oxford Crown Court yesterday, the Henley businessman was described as "the prince among confidence tricksters".

Al Kehaimi, of Upton Close, denies four charges of procuring valuable securities by deception, one of attempted deception and one of theft. The total amount he is alleged to have defrauded is more than £300,000. One deception relates to £40,000 to sponsor the Tyrell Formula 1 racing team, another to invest in an aircraft and a third to give money to a woman who needed it to release her brother from a Saudi jail.

The court heard that Al Kehaimi flew Cher to Monte Carlo for the Grand Prix where he hosted her 50th birthday party at a £30m chateau.

The balding 39-year-old handed the celebrity the keys to a Lamborghini as a present. But he did not own the car and was merely trying to impress clients, it was claimed. He had met the singer the previous year in a restaurant and invited her to Monte Carlo. Others at the party during the 1996 Grand Prix included the Tyrell racing team.

Simon Brown, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court: "Cher features in this as a completely innocent person. This well-known personality did not have the faintest idea she was dealing with a conman who was so good he took everyone in."

Mr Brown said Al Kehaimi was distantly related to the Saudi royal family and went into business in 1992 with Prince Khalid. They bought a Boeing 707 to fly people round the world, including singer Rod Stewart and the Sultan of Brunei. Al Kehaimi talked his way into occupying a $50m chateau, helicoptering his guests around Monaco. However, cracks began to appear with some guests at the party smelling a rat and beginning to ask questions.

The Boeing had been grounded at Stansted Airport with unpaid wages and fuel bills. Police inquiries began and Al Kehaimi was arrested in 1998.

The trial continues and is expected to last two to three weeks.

Story date: Tuesday 19 October

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