Hold your horses: training payment blocked for terrorism checks on filly called Isis

Owner with love for ancient Egypt speechless after PayPal launches investigation

Susan Govindasamy was paying for horse training fees – not donating to ISIS. Getty Images

The British owner of a horse named after an Egyptian goddess had her training fees blocked over terrorism concerns after transferring money accompanied by the words "funds for Isis".

Susan Govindasamy, 57, failed to appreciate the connotations of her nine-year-old Arab horse's name and the £500 ($695) transfer was blocked by PayPal, The Telegraph reported.

Ms Govindasamy, from Bolton, north-west England, has a passion for ancient Egypt and previously owned horses called Pharaoh and Nefertiti. She had dismissed friends' suggestions she should rename her horse as the terrorist organisation ISIS gained increasing notoriety.

She said she was lost for words when she was contacted by PayPal and told the transaction was under review to “minimise risk” for the company and customers.

"When the penny dropped I was speechless," said Ms Govindasamy, who was contacted by law enforcement officials on the matter. "I was investigated, as was the other side where the money was going to, and I explained in detail what was happening and that my horse was called Isis."
The payment was unblocked after she provided her horse's passport as proof of identification.

She said she had to sign a declaration stating she had no connection to any terrorist group before the funds were released.