ISLAMABAD: Ayan Ali’s appeal against the decision handed down by the customs collector pertaining to currency smuggling has been shot down by the Customs Appellate Tribunal (CAT).
CAT Chairperson Manzoor stated that the decision which imposed a Rs50 million fine on the model and allowed for the seizure of currency found in her possession would be upheld. The decision was reserved on April 4.
The model was stopped at Islamabad’s Benazir Bhutto International Airport on March 14, 2015, before reportedly boarding a flight to Dubai. She was arrested on charges of money laundering after customs officials recovered $506,000 from her luggage.
In November 2015, Ayyan pleaded guilty when she was indicted for attempting to smuggle more than half a million dollars in cash out of the country.
Ayyan’s name was also out on the Exit Control List (ECL) which was finally lifted in February 2017 by the Interior Ministry in February this year, after which she was able to fly out of the country.
