JAKARTA: An Indonesian fashion designer who shot to global fame with herMuslim-themed collection was sentenced to 18 years in prison for amulti-million dollar fraud and money-laundering.
A court near Jakarta convicted Anniesa Hasibuan, 31, and her husband ofcheating customers who booked pilgrimage trips to Islam’s holiest cityMecca through a travel agency they operated.
The pair were accused of bilking thousands of clients out of at least 848billion rupiahs ($60 million), a steep fall from grace for Hasibuan who hadbecome a household name in the world’s biggest Muslim-majority country.
In 2016 Hasibuan’s collection was shown at New York Fashion Week where allher runway models wore hijab headscarves and Muslim-inspired designs, afirst for the prestigious event.
Hasibuan and her husband Andika Surachman established Jakarta-based FirstTravel in 2009 to operate trips to Saudi Arabia. But it had not sent anyclients to Mecca since early last year despite being paid for them, thecourt heard.
The court fined Hasibuan 10 billion rupiahs and sentenced her spouse to 20years in prison. He was slapped with the same fine.
Prosecutors had demanded 20-year prison terms for both.
“(The defendants) have been proven legally and convincingly guilty ofcommitting a criminal act together,” said presiding judge Sobandi, who likemany Indonesians goes by one name.
Hasibuan’s works have also been featured at shows in London, Istanbul andCannes, but New York Fashion Week cemented her status as a rising star inthe fashion world.
She is also well-known for her lavish lifestyle, regularly posting picturesof herself and her husband travelling abroad and wearing expensive clothing.