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Baku. 15 January. REPORT.AZ/ A diamond ring worth more than a million pounds has been seized by British authorities investigating the unexplained wealth of jailed Azerbaijani banker Jahangir Hajiyev and his wife Zamira Hajiyeva, Report informs citing foreign media.
Jahangir Hajiyev bought the spectacular 8.9 ct Cartier ring eight years ago in Harrods, but the item was seized by agents from the National Crime Agency while it was being repaired at a jewellers.
The NCA believes the source of the funds to purchase the jewellery requires further investigation.
Zamira Hajiyeva was arrested in London.
The 55-year-old spouse of jailed former chairman of board of the International Bank of Azerbaijan Jahangir Hajiyev spent £16 million across 35 credit cards belonging to her husband in 10 years in the luxury Harrods department store.
Seven years ago, a company based in the British Virgin Islands—traced back to the ownership of Hajiyev and his wife—bought an £11.5 million home close to Harrods in London's west.
Her other known purchases include more than £10 million buying the Mill Ride Golf Club estate in Berkshire and £31 million (£42 million in today’s money) on a private jet. These stand to be seized if Hajiyeva cannot provide an account of how she lawfully acquired the money to purchase them.
Official records also revealed Mrs Hajiyev owned two dedicated bays within the private Harrods car park.
Her family's jewelry worth more than £400,000 was seized from Christie's auction house by the National Crime Agency over suspicions about how the items were purchased.
Hajiyeva was released on bail on November 8.
