Money laundering case: Ayyan challenges Rs50m fine

ISLAMABAD:  

Model and money laundering accused Ayyan Ali has approached the Islamabad High Court challenging a custom collector’s order imposing a penalty of Rs50 million, arguing that she was fined without being given an opportunity to defend herself. The petition requests the court to set aside the order. Customs officials had arrested Ali at Islamabad’s Benazir Bhutto International Airport while she was allegedly trying to smuggle $506,000 out of the country. On April 4, the customs collector (adjudication) imposed a fine on her for attempting to move an amount of foreign currency beyond the proscribed limit. Ali, through her counsel Sardar Muhammad Latif Khosa, has challenged the decision, saying that she was shocked to learn through electronic and print media about the impugned order.  The counsel said that the custom collector imposed a fine after ex-parte proceedings, while the currency smuggling case is still pending before courts.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2016.