Currency smuggling: Court reserves verdict on Ayyan Ali’s appeals

Verdict on withdrawing non-bailable arrest warrants expected on Jan 23


Our Correspondent January 19, 2019
Model Ayyan Ali. PHOTO: FILE

RAWALPINDI: A customs court in Rawalpindi on Friday reserved its verdict on three appeals filed by supermodel Ayyan Ali who is accused of trying to smuggle currency.

A counsel for the supermodel had urged the special customs court in three separate requests to withdraw the non-bailable arrest warrants against his client, grant his client leave from appearing before the court until the case has been decided and being tried twice for the same crime.

Ayyan’s counsel Sarfaraz Metho told the court on Friday that the fashion model was afraid of being arrested on appearing in court. If the non-bailable warrants are withdrawn, he assured the court that his client will return to the country and face the case hearings.

During the hearing, Customs Prosecutor Muhammad Amin Feroze claimed that the accused was deliberately avoiding an appearance before the court. He added that when she had asked for her confiscated passport, she had provided assurances that she will make sure she returns to the country to attend every hearing for the case.

Court again issues non-bailable arrest warrants for Ayyan Ali

But since December 16, 2016, she has not appeared before the court.

“Every time [each hearing] a medical [report] is sent,” Feroze contended.

He demanded that the surety bonds submitted by the accused are cancelled, and take legal action against the two men who gave a guarantee to the court of her return and start the procedure for declaring Ayyan as an absconder.

Feroze further argued that while a Customs Collectorate was well within their rights to confiscate the $506,800 and impose a penalty of equal value on the supermodel. While that was a civil matter, the Customs Prosecutor argued that the current case was criminal in nature and since Ayyan was the sole accused in the case, she cannot be exempted from attending hearings.

Metho countered that his client was ill but has now recovered and was willing to return to face the courts but the warrants were proving to be an obstacle.

Contending that they do not want to drag the case on any longer, he urged the court to summon all the witnesses and promised to have his client record her statement and complete arguments in a single day.

After listening to arguments from both sides, Customs Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta noted that this was an old case and has been continuing for a prolonged period of time. He added that he wants to resolve it as soon as possible.

Reserving the verdict, the judge said a decision will be announced on January 23.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2019.

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