ISLAMABAD: Customs Appellate Tribunal dated in office the hearing of famous Ayyan Ali’s money laundering case on Wednesday, directing counsels to prepare for arguments.
A division bench of the tribunal comprising Chairman Justice (r) Manzoor Hussain and Ziauddin Wazir heard the case. The bench would rehear the matter tomorrow.
Ayyan Ali had filed a petition with the Customs Appellate Tribunal for early hearing of her restored appeal, challenging an announcement about money laundering of $500,000 in March 2015.
Ayyan Ali’s counsel Sardar Latif Khosa counsel argued that his client was innocent and also submitted that the department had no sufficient evidence to prove that money black money was being laundered. He asked the tribunal to set aside the announcement made by the customs court. The bench then dated in office the hearing.
Khosa had a paid fine of Rs 10,000 for restoration of the case. Earlier the case was dismissed for non-prosecution by the appellant.
Ayyan was arrested from Benazir Bhutto International Airport with $500,000 in March 2015. The Airport Security Force intercepted her and recovered the amount from her luggage. She was released on bail after four months in Adiala Jail.
The amount was confiscated by the customs authorities and later the customs adjudication found her guilty of smuggling of the said amount. The customs court maintained the departmental decision on confiscation of amount and also added a fine of $500,000.
