Court dismisses Ayyan's acquittal plea

Ayyan was arrested by Customs officials in March this year in a money laundering case

A special customs court in Rawalpindi dismissed on Friday supermodel Ayyan’s acquittal plea in a money laundering case, Express News reported.

The court has summoned the supermodel on November 12.

Ayyan was arrested by Customs officials from Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad on March 14 after US $506,800 was recovered from her luggage. She was taken to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.



After spending over four months in jail, a division bench of the Lahore High Court on July 14 granted bail to the supermodel.

Arguing before the bench comprising Justice Anwarul Haq and Justice Arshad Mahmood Tabassum, Ayyan’s counsel claimed the Customs officials had arrested her and raised fake charges of money smuggling.



After counsels from both sides completed their arguments on the acquittal plea, Customs Court Judge Rana Aftab Ahmad while reserving the judgment, adjourned the hearing till November 6.

The prosecution strongly opposes the acquittal plea and claims Ayyan was arrested under Section 7 of the Customs Act from the VIP lounge of the airport while she was going to Dubai.

The court was expected to decide the acquittal plea on Wednesday, but Judge Rana Aftab Ahmed reserved the ruling and set a date of November 6 for the announcement of the verdict in the high-profile case.