When you’re a student, cobbling together enough cash to buy a bottle of Tassies can sometimes be a struggle.

No offence, Tassies – we had a few good times together.

Then there’s the case of Fayrooz Saleh, the 22-year-old student caught trying to leave the country with $630 700 (over R9 million) on September 11.

When we first reported the story, the exchange rate had that amount at closer to R10 million, but no matter how you look at, alarm bells are ringing.

Those bells are now deafening, following Saleh’s no-show at the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court, where she was supposed to plead, and also reveal to the court where she got the cash from.

News24 below:

A warrant for immediate arrest has been issued for a 22-year-old student who was nabbed while trying to leave South Africa with cash worth over R9m in US dollars…

Advocate Ori Moloi, for Salem, told Magistrate V Krishna that he had been informed his client was not feeling well.

It should be noted that News24 spells her name differently to numerous other news outlets. On Facebook, her name is ‘Fayrooz Saleh‘. We know that is her account because numerous reputable news outlets have been pulling their images from there.

A Twitter account featuring the same photos as the Facebook account also uses that spelling.

It also features this tweet from last year:

Fayrooz can be named because she has already appeared in court and received bail of R20 000. Back to today’s court action:

Moloi said he would consult further with Salem.

However, the State argued that there was no form of documentation proving that Salem was sick and stated that a warrant of arrest be issued…

Salem faces charges of contravening the Customs and Excise Act, as well as the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.

The Sowetan has more spice:

Besides failing to declare Saleh‚ believed to be from Ennerdale in Johannesburg‚ also faces a charge suggesting the cash may be the proceeds of a crime. The state alleges that she took the money knowing it was obtained unlawfully…

According to court documents‚ she was stopped by officials from the SA Revenue Service (Sars) who took her to the customs area. They opened her luggage in her presence and found $630‚700 (R9m). When questioned‚ she said she was heading to Hong Kong to buy goods.

Just the usual student jaunt to Hong Kong with a bag full of Benjamins.

The case has been now postponed to October 25, when Saleh is expected to learn if she will forfeit her bail.

[sources:news24&sowetan]