JAKARTA: An Indonesian fashion designer who shot to global fame with her Muslim-themed collection was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Wednesday for a multi-million dollar fraud and money laundering. A court near Jakarta convicted Anniesa Hasibuan, 31, and her husband of cheating customers who booked pilgrimage trips to Islam’s holiest city Mecca through a travel agency they operated. Hasibuan and her husband Andika Surachman established Jakarta-based First Travel in 2009 to operate trips to Saudi Arabia. But it had not sent any clients to Mecca since early last year despite being paid for them, the court heard. The court fined Hasibuan 10 billion rupiah and sentenced her spouse to 20 years in prison.

Source: Manila Times May 30, 2018 12:21 UTC