THIMPHU: Too good to be true or call it a perfect script for a Bhutanese conman movie. A 24-year-old unemployed man had been on a coning spree, deceiving and robbing elderly people in Thimphu since January this year.

He followed the same style- befriending strangers, had favourite locations – Changlam plaza and the vegetable market area and preyed on victims over 50 years. When police caught him on October 22, there were already nine complaints against him - four cases of deceptive practice, two robbery, two larceny and a theft of service.

The first incident occurred on January 1 when the accused befriended Dendup, 55, after they met at the vegetable market in Thimphu. They walked till the Changlam plaza and the accused asked him for Nu 2,000 saying he had to clear his credit at a restaurant. He told Dendup that he would return the cash immediately, but never returned.

On January 16, another victim, Jamyang, 70, met the accused at Changlam plaza. He introduced himself as Pelchen and took Jamyang to a restaurant near the Bhutan National Bank. He was robbed of Nu 8,000 after the first encounter.

Four days later, Namgay, 61, and his nephew were walking by the taxi parking when the accused called them and said that he would give them a lift. They were taken to a restaurant nearby and were offered food and drinks. Namgay told him that he was traveling to India and that he needed some Indian currency. The accused then offered to change the amount and asked them to wait there. But he never came back.

The accused robbed a 76-year-old man of Nu 6,000 in the same month. The victim, Thinley Dorji came to Thimphu from Wangduephodrang and met the accused at the vegetable market. He impersonated as a training officer working in Thimphu. They went to a bar nearby. He borrowed Nu 6,000 and told Thinley Dorji to wait near a car parked near the bar, which he claimed, was his. He told Thinley Dorji he would return the money from the car. Thinley only saw him at the police station last week when he came to identify the accused.

On February 19, another man, was robbed of his wristwatch and Nu 2,000. The accused befriended Penjor, 68, when he was returning from the hospital. He invited Penjor to visit his parents. But he took Penjor to changlam plaza and robed him.

On the same day, the accused checked in at the Rabsel hotel on Norzin lam. He had lunch, worth Nu 500, in the hotel and disappeared. Police found that he had checked in just to eat. The next day, he robbed a 54-year old man of Nu 5,500.

The youngest of the victims, Rinchen, 35, easily gave away Nu 2,500 when the accused introduced himself as a friend of Rinchen’s friend. He borrowed the money from Rinchen after they had tea together. Rinchen was asked to wait near a vehicle, which he claimed was his. But he never showed up. The latest incident took place on October 20 when the accused offered to help an old woman to walk her to her son’s place in Changangkha. When they reached the son’s place, the accused had stolen a laptop when she was preparing tea in the kitchen. He also asked her to lend him Nu 2,000 to fuel his car, which she refused. After he left, the woman found the laptop missing.

According to police, the accused confessed to all the nine charges.