Student bust with R9m ditches lawyer

At the eleventh hour, the South African student accused of trying to smuggle about R9m in US dollars through the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg has decided to change lawyers.

This delayed proceedings in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

The court postponed the case against Fayrooz Saleh to Wednesday to allow her new lawyer to be briefed.

The case against Saleh, 22, has faced several disruptions‚ the last postponement being because her then lawyer‚ Ori Moloi‚ was travelling overseas‚ leaving his stand-in to request a postponement on his behalf.

Magistrate Veena Krishna had expressed her disapproval of Moloi‚ calling it unacceptable.

Saleh was arrested at the airport on September 11 as she was about to depart for Hong Kong.

According to court documents‚ she was stopped by revenue service [Sars] officials who opened her luggage in her presence and allegedly found $630‚700 (R8.7m) in cash.

When questioned‚ Saleh said she was heading to Hong Kong to buy goods.

She appeared in court shortly after her arrest and was granted R20‚000 bail.

After her arrest‚ Sars said Saleh had first denied having the currency, but when questioned further allegedly admitted to having a substantial sum of money in her backpack.

“She [said] she was not the owner of the currency‚ nor could she provide any proof of ownership.”

She is charged with contravening the Customs and Excise Act and the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.

The state claims she obtained the cash unlawfully through the proceeds of crime.

She has no previous convictions. –