Aussie writer investigates paranormal fires

Aussie writer investigates paranormal fires

Zainab Sulaiman, 75, showing the burn marks on a mattress to Paul Cropper at her house.By SYED AZHARAn Australian writer intrigued by the paranormal happenings at the home of Zainab Sulaiman, which included unexplained mysterious fires, has flown down to investigate and chronicle it for an upcoming book on the matter.Paul Cropper, 47, from Sydney arrived in Kota Baru on Friday to meet 75-year-old Zainab in Kampung Penambang Bunga after reading about her ordeal in The Star online.Zainabs experience is similar to the work of a poltergeist or djinn as the locals call it.I have personally experienced such entities in Australia where things mysteriously fly. I want to compare Zainabs experience with the paranormal activities in Australia, Cropper said in an interview.Paul stressed that he cannot claim to be a paranormal activities expert but was determined to write a book on the subject.I expect the book would be completed in six months and I will prominently highlight Zainabs experience in my book, said the manager with a major Australian Telecommunications company who has been writing on strange phenomena for over 20 years.He has co-authored two books on Australian wildlife myths and legends.More than five paranormal experts, including Chinese sifus and bomohs, had exorcised Zainabs house and she has not experienced any strange phenomena ever since.A delighted Zainab said she was happy with Pauls visit.At least now people believe my story because before this many had thought that I was an insane old woman trying to get attention from the public or trying to cash in on my predicament, she told Paul. She gave him a half-burnt floor mat to bring back to Australia as a memento.Zainab, who lives in the wooden house with her daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, was plagued with mysterious fires since early December last year.The mischievous spirits had b! urnt at least 300 pieces of her clothes and damaged at least six mattresses that resulted in Zainab having sleepless nights worrying that the entities would set the whole house on fire while everyone slept.