Ayyan’s counsel submitted that the model was implicated in the case as part of a conspiracy. PHOTO: NNI
RAWALPINDI/ LAHORE: A judge of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday dismissed the bail application of supermodel Ayyan in the money laundering case. Justice Abdul Sami Khan issued the order after hearing arguments from both the defence and the prosecution.
Ayyan’s counsel submitted that the model was implicated in the case as part of a conspiracy. He also accused customs officials of illegally implicating her in the money-laundering case.
By any stretch of the imagination, Ayyan could not be called a traveller because she had neither got a boarding card nor did her passport carry an exit stamp. In such an instance, he said, it would be unfair to implicate her in a money laundering case.
He appealed to the court to stay the proceedings against her before the customs court and grant her bail in this case.
A prosecutor, on behalf of the customs authorities, submitted that Ayaan was arrested under section 7 of Customs Act. Her bail applications were previously dismissed on merit. He made it clear that Ayyan was arrested from the VIP lounge of the airport while she was en route to Dubai, in response to the claims of her lawyer.
At first, the court reserved its judgment but later in the day it rejected the bail plea.
A customs court in Rawalpindi has extended Ayaan’s judicial remand till July 6. Customs judge Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan also issued a notice to Ayaan, summoning her at the next hearing. Customs prosecutor Muhammad Ameen told this publication that they had solid evidence of money laundering against Ayaan. Ameen claimed that several big names will come to the fore once the court allows them to register a new case.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 30th, 2015.
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