A Libyan man today pleaded not guilty to having failed to declare €58,000 in cash which he was carrying when he arrived in Malta on a flight from Tripoli last Saturday.
Defence counsel Shazoo Ghaznavi said the accused, Rabeia Mustaffa Ali Elshhoumi, 27, had gone directly to the green channel to declare the cash which he was carrying. Before he could open his mouth, customs officers asked him whether he was carrying money. He replied 'yes'. At that point the money was seized.
Police Inspector Maurice Curmi said that at the Arrivals Lounge there were signs in all languages saying that any funds exceeding €10,000 have to be declared. However the accused had gone straight to the green channel in order to leave the airport.
Dr Ghaznavi said that if his client was convicted, it would be Malta which would lose out as the €58,000 were intended for purchases here.
Bail was granted against a deposit of €5,000 and the accused was allowed to go to Libya as long as he returned.