A Libyan man travelling to Malta to purchase property will be leaving with a lighter pocket after forfeiting some €22,000 for breaching cash control regulations.

Azam Mohammed Omar Elkaber, a 33-year old Tripoli born passenger, was passing through customs at the Malta International Airport on Tuesday on his way to board a flight to Istanbul when he was found to be carrying €25,555 in cash, well over the maximum statutory limit of €10,000.

The man was arrested and arraigned on Wednesday and charged with breaching cash control regulations.

Defence lawyer Edward Gatt explained that his client had travelled to Malta to sign a preliminary agreement for the purchase of a property locally. The man was not aware that the maximum amount he could carry through customs was €10,000.

A representative of the Customs Comptroller presented the excess sum of €15,555 in court, inside a sealed envelope duly signed by two officials who had confiscated and counted the sum beforehand.

In the light of the accused’s admission, duty magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech declared him guilty, ordered the forfeiture of €15,555 and handed down a fine of €6,388.75, the statutory 25% fine on the total amount found in the man’s possession.

Inspector Christabelle Chetcuti prosecuted.