Man fined €90,000 over undeclared alcohol, cigarettes

A 55-year-old man, who in 2003 was found in possession of contraband cigarettes and alcohol, has been fined €90,582 after being found guilty of tax evasion.

In July 2003, Raymond Camilleri, an Air Malta baggage handler, was originally accused of stealing €1000 in 22 mobile phones from the luggage of a certain Carmel Cutajar. A subsequent search carried out at the accused’s home and garage in Ibragg revealed contraband cigarettes, tobacco, alcohol, two sets of cordless telephones and two air rifles.

The accused, who the court described as being “evasive” in his answers, claimed that he had bought the alcohol from Italy in September 2004, and that since he had paid excise duty in Italy, he need not pay in Malta.

However, Camilleri’s plea was thrown out by the court after he failed to justify the number of times he went to Italy in relation to the amount of alcohol found in his possession.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera found the accused guilty and fined him €90,582. He was also handed a €500 fine for tax evasion and  a three-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months.

The court also ordered that the objects be confiscated by the police.

However, Camilleri was cleared of stealing the mobile phones due to lack of evidence. In its decree the court held that even though the seller  of the mobile phones had told police that he had purchased them from Camilleri, the prosecution failed to prove these were the actual mobiles stolen in July 2003. 

Inspector Carmelo Magri prosecuted. Magistarte Consuelo Scerri Herrera presided over the Magistrates Court.