AGA KHAN’S HOST

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1937, Page 9

AGA KHAN’S HOST

£200,000 FRAUD CHARGE DAR-ES-SALAAM, February 24. Search is being made by the police of Tanganyika foi; a young Indian merchant who on a lavish scale entertained the Aga Khan during his Bast African tour. A warrant for the man has been issued on a charge of defrauding local banks of a sum of about £200,000 by forged documents. This is a large sum for Dar-es-Salaam, and a local financial crisis is feared. , . The Aga Khan visited East Africa during the tour he made in celebration of his Golden Jubilee as head of the Ismaili section of the Moslems. His host here was Esmail Hosseinali Hasmani, who was supposed to be very successful in business and to have a considerable fortune.

He placed his own fleet, of aeroplanes at the Aga Khan’s disposal. A week ago he left the town in a car accompanied by his chauffeur. The authorities are now using aeroplanes and wireless in their efforts to trace him. His car has been found abandoned, but the police suspect that he laid a false trail., doubled back to the coast and is now making off to the south in a dhow.

Dar-es-Salaam banks have now stopped further commitments and are calling in advances. Credit generally is being withheld and many firms may be involved in financial disaster as a result of the alleged loss. —LATER. Hasmani has been arrested.