Azerbaijani woman who spent £16m in Harrods has reportedly been arrested and faces extradition
The wife of an Azeri banker who spent £16m in Harrods and was the subject of the UK’s first unexplained wealth order (UWO) has reportedly been arrested, pending extradition.
Zamira Hajiyeva, 55, was exposed as the subject of a UWO which forced her to reveal how she was able to afford two UK properties worth a combined £22m.
Her husband Jahangir Hajiyev, the former chairman of the International Bank of Azerbaijan, was convicted of fraud and embezzlement in 2016 and sentenced to 15 years in jail.
Hajiyeva has now been arrested and faces extradition to Azerbaijan, the BBC reports.
At a bail hearing yesterday prosecutors said she should remain in custody, as she poses a flight risk.
Her lawyers said she was not a fraudster and said she was not likely to leave the country, given her strong links to the UK.
The court reportedly granted bail, however, prosecutors appealed meaning she will remain in custody with an appeal set for Thursday