‘McMafia’ wife who blew £16,000,000 at Harrods avoids extradition to Azerbaijan

The woman at the centre of the UK’s first so-called ‘McMafia order’ has avoided being sent back to Azerbaijan to face fraud and embezzlement charges.

Zamira Hajiyeva, 55, won a court battle today after a Westminster Magistrates’ Court judge ruled she would not get a fair trial in the former Soviet republic.

Lawyers representing the Azerbaijani government have indicated they will appeal against the judge’s ruling that sending her back would be against her human rights.

Hajiyev was the first person in the UK to be targeted with newly introduced Unexplained Wealth Orders, requiring her to reveal where her assets came from.

The National Crime Agency want to know how she and her husband could afford to buy an £11.5 million Knightsbridge house just a few minutes’ away from Harrods and a £10.5 million golf club in Ascot, Berkshire.

Earlier this year, it was revealed the wife of jailed banker Jahangir Hajiyev spent £16 million on jewellery, designer fashion and perfume during a decade long shopping spree in Harrods.

This was on top of a further £15.5 million in luxury boutiques, hotels, restaurants and grand department stores across Europe.

She spent £5.75 million at jewellers Boucheron and Cartier, and paid six-figure sums for fashion brands including Dennis Basso, Celine, Fendi and Christian Dior.

Hajiyev also bought flight tickets for herself and family members, paid school fees for three children and splashed out on health and beauty treatments.

She is alleged to have been a member of an ‘organised crime group’ of 37 people involved in embezzling 97 million US dollars (£76 million) from the International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA) between 2009 and 2015.

Her husband, Hajiyev, 57, was the chairman of the state-controlled bank from 2001 until his resignation in 2015 before he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for fraud and embezzlement.

Since then his wife has been fighting extradition in relation to the same allegations, claiming she is being persecuted for her political beliefs and would not get a fair trial.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court today, Senior District Judge Emma Arbuthnot agreed she could suffer a ‘flagrant denial of justice’ in Azerbaijan and ruled against her extradition.

She pointed out major flaws in the Eurasian country’s legal system, including the judiciary not being independent of the state and lawyers being punished for taking on cases against the interests of the state.

The judge added: ‘There’s almost bound to be an appeal in this case, we will know for sure in 14 days.

‘You remain on the same bail as before.’

In a written judgement she said she did accept the Azerbaijani government’s claim that Hajiyeva played a part in the criminal network.

She ‘There is evidence from which dishonesty could be inferred. I find there is sufficient evidence of conspiracy to defraud.’

Judge Arbuthnot also found there was very little evidence provided by the defence that the case against Mrs Hajiyeva in Azerbaijan was ;politically motivated;.

She added: ‘It is being made because her husband defrauded the bank of a large amount of money over a lengthy period of time in a dishonest conspiracy involving many others.’

When Hajiyeva unsuccessfully attempted to overturn one of the Unexplained Wealth Orders in October last year, her lawyers claimed her husband’s conviction was the result of a ‘show trial’.

They said his guilt ‘had been determined by the presidential administration in advance’ and said the order was part of an investigative process, rather than a criminal procedure.

Hajiyeva was granted permission to appeal against the High Court’s decision through the Court of Appeal, which is expected to be heard in December.