Zamira Hajiyeva, who was the target of UK’s first unexplained wealth order, faces extradition

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A woman who spent £16m in Harrods and was the target of the UK’s first unexplained wealth order has been arrested and faces extradition, it has been reported.

Zamira Hajiyeva was identified last month after a failed attempt to appeal against the legal order, which forces her to explain to the National Crime Agency (NCA) how she was able to obtain an £11.5m property in Knightsbridge, central London.

She is the wife of Jahangir Hajiyev, who was jailed in 2016 after being convicted of embezzling money from the International Bank of Azerbaijan, where he was chairman.

Hajiyeva was arrested by the Metropolitan police after an extradition request from authorities in Baku and faces two charges of embezzlement, the BBC reported.

A judge at Westminster magistrates court ruled on Tuesday that Hajiyeva could be released on bail under certain conditions, including remaining at her Knightsbridge home, reporting to police daily and paying a £500,000 bond.

However, the decision was challenged by prosecutors and Hajiyeva will remain in custody pending an appeal on Thursday.

This year, a court heard how Hajiyeva had spent more than £16m at Harrods over a 10-year period. Last week, jewellery worth £400,000 was seized from the auction house Christie’s in connection with the case.

The NCA said the source of funds used to purchase the jewellery, including a £120,000 Boucheron necklace, required further investigation.

Hajiyeva has denied any wrongdoing. After she was named in court, her lawyers said: “The decision of the high court upholding the grant of an unexplained wealth order against Zamira Hajiyeva does not and should not be taken to imply any wrongdoing, whether on her part or that of her husband.

“The NCA’s case is that the UWO [unexplained wealth order] is part of an investigative process, not a criminal procedure, and it does not involve the finding of any criminal offence.”