Money laundering case: Court expresses annoyance at Customs officials

Ayyan Ali could not be indicted over incomplete charge-sheet.

RAWALPINDI: Model Ayyan Ali could not be indicted in the currency smuggling case on Friday as the charge-sheet of the case is yet to be submitted by the Customs authorities.

When Customs Court Judge Rana Aftab Ahmad took up the case for hearing at the district courts, the model was also present. She has travelled from Karachi for the third time following her release on bail after spending several months in Adiala Jail on judicial remand.

Ayyan’s counsel Sardar Latif Khosa argued that the customs authorities have obtained arrest warrants of a property dealer and a person who had purchased a property from his client.

“It has not been determined so far whether the property dealer and the purchaser of the property are accused or witnesses in the case,” he argued adding that a petition was sub-judice in the Lahore High Court and his client could not be indicted until the case was adjudicated.

Customs’ counsel also told the court that the model had made 41 trips out of the country to which the defence counsel said that she is a super model and a cultural ambassador of Pakistan and has contractual obligations in foreign countries.

The court reprimanded the Customs authorities for their failure to produce a complete charge-sheet and directed them to present a complete one at the next hearing, to be held on September 15, 2015.

The customs intelligence, meanwhile, filed a reply in connection with the registration of a case against Ayyan under the money laundering clauses.

It has been said in the reply that solid evidence is available against the accused about her involvement in money laundering. The authorities seek to conduct an investigation against Ayyan. That request will be heard on September 15, 2015.

The judge also ordered the Custom officials to ascertain the status of Mohammad Owais (property buyer) and Mumtaz Hussain (property dealer); whether they are witnesses or accused in the case.

The court also directed authorities to fulfill the legal requirement with regard to a petition filed in the Lahore High Court in connection with the arrest of the two men.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2015.