Unexplained Wealth Order confirmed against

woman who spent €19m in Harrods

Zamira Hajiyeva has lost her Appeal in the UK Court of Appeal against an Order of the High Court forcing her to explain the source of her wealth and that her assets came from legitimate and lawful sources and activities.

Zamira Hajiyeva has lost her Appeal in the UK Court of Appeal against an Order of the High Court forcing her to explain the source of her wealth and that her assets came from legitimate and lawful sources and activities.

The salary earned by Mr. Hajiyeva as Head of the Bank was some $70,000 yet his Wife Zamira Hajiyeva had spent some £18.9m acquiring assets in various European countries principally in the UK and had spent some €19m in Harrods alone.

Having been asked to explain the source of her wealth which included a Golf Club in the suburbs of London and an expensive property near Harrods Mrs. Hajiyeva produced evidence from a Fund Manager purporting to confirm that she was independently wealthy from her Husband. Unfortunately the Court of Appeal did not place any credence on the Report by the Fund Manager and stated that in fact it led to more questions than answers. The National Crime Agency utilised the Application for the unexplained Wealth Order pursuant to new legislation as part of its effort to combat corruption and the inflow of suspect funds into the UK from abroad. The Order made also freezes all of the assets of Mrs. Hajiyeva and stops her from attempting to dispose of same.

Mrs. Zamira Hajiyeva used some 54 credit cards, most of which were linked to the Bank previously headed by her Husband. She went on a massive spending spree in various Department Stores in London and across Europe, particularly in Harrods.

The spending in Harrods included: -

1. Cartier Jewellery: £1.4m
2. Dennis Basso Fashion: £402,000
3. Boucheron Jewellery: £3.5m
4. Harrords perfume: £160,000
5. Sandwich by Tom: £332,000

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This document is for information purposes only and does not purport to represent legal advice.  
© O’Rourke Reid 2020