A 40-year-old man from Modica, Italy, was this morning arraigned before Magistrate Joe Mifsud for failing to declare the cash he was carrying with him.

Enrico Borrometi arrived in Malta from Sicily aboard the catamaran. He was driving a Range Rover when the customs control escorted him for scanning. Testifying before the courts, the customs officer explained that the Italian national was asked how much money was he carrying. At first the man said he had some €9,000. After a scan, the man got out an envelope containing another €6,500. He was then told that he needed to register the money if the amount exceeds the €10,000. At this point, another envelope emerged, this time with some €10,000, bringing the global amount to €22,990.

Another customs official exhibited the money which was confiscated, the sum of €12,000 as the remaining €10,000 were given to the accused. 

Defending the accused, lawyer Arthur Azzopardi explained that the man was carrying cash to pay his employees in Malta. The Italian national, who has a clean police conduct, has a small business in Malta which was set up some four months ago.

Magistrate Joe Mifsud said that the law clearly states that the fine should be 25% of the total amount (€22,990). Therefore, the man was ordered to pay €5,747 while a confiscation order of €12,000 was also set. The fine will be payable within three years.